UC-NRLF 


£  R   "31  n   L  P  n 


REMINISCENCES 

OF 

AM  ARMY  N UR5E 

DURING 

THE  CIVIL  WAR 


ADEUM&Z-W-JMITH 

1HDEPE.Wt>EMT 
VOVUNT£ER_ 


GREAVES  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

NEW   YORK 

MCMXI 


Dedication 

To  the 

Boys  in  Blue 

1861-1865; 

and  to  those  brave  women  who,  with  smiling  faces 
and  breaking  hearts,  sent  them  forth  to  save  their 
country  and  their  homes,  while  they  themselves 
toiled  in  fields  and  elsewhere,  waiting  to  welcome 
home  too  many  who  never  returned;  and  to  that 
band  of  heroic  devoted  women,  many  of  whom  left 
luxurious  homes  for  the  discomforts  and  privations 
of  hospital  life,  and  died,  self-sacrificing  patriots  of 
the  war,  this  true  story  is  affectionately  dedicated. 

A.  W.  S. 


COPYRIGHT  1911 

BY 
ADELAIDE    W.    SMITH 


YORK    PRINTING    COMPANY 
YORK,    PA. 


Contents 

CHAP.  PAGE 

Foreword 9 

I.     A  View  of  the  Situation 11 

II.     Long  Island  College  Hospital,  Brook 
lyn 21 

III.  Bedloe's  Island,  Now  Liberty 33 

IV.  The    Great    Manhattan    Fair    of    the 

United  States  Sanitary  Commission  44 

V.     New  England  Rooms 53 

VI.     Arms  and  Trophy  Department  of  the 

Sanitary  Commission  Fair 59 

VII.     Unique  Case  of  William  Mudge 71 

VIII.     The  Start  for  the  Front 78 

IX.     Some    Patients 84 

X.     Experiences  at  Point  of  Rocks 90 

XL     Depot     Field      Hospital      and      State 

Agencies  at  City  Point,  Virginia.  .  .  96 
XII.     City  Point,  Virginia,— A  Day  in  The 

Army   116 

XIII.  Dorothea  Dix 125 

XIV.  An  Unexpected  Ride 131 

XV.     Two  Fiancees 139 

XVI.     The  Story  of  My  Pass 144 

XVII.     Thanksgiving,    1864,    Under    Fire    at 

Dutch  Gap,  Virginia 148 

XVIII.     Domestic    Life    in    Camp    and    Other 

Incidents   160 


CONTENTS 


XIX.     Love  in  Camp 

XX.     New  York  State  Agency 

XXI.     A  House  Moving 

XXII.     The     Last     Parade     of     Confederate 
Prisoners   

XXIII.  Our  First  Sight  of  Petersburg 

XXIV.  Preparing  for  a  Visit  to  Richmond,  the 

Capital  of  the  Lost  Confederacy.  .  .  . 

XXV.     Recollections  of  Lincoln 

XXVI.     Recent  Letter  from  Dr.  Alary  Black- 
mar  Brnson 

XXVII.     Last  of  City  Point 

XXVIII.     Washington     and     New     York     State 

Agency    

XXIX.     Old  Capitol  Prison,  Washington,  D.  C. 
XXX.     The  Last  Act  in  My  Drama  at  Wash 
ington  

XXXI.     Transportation   Home 


167 
185 
191 

197 

200 


240 

247 


253 
260 


Foreword 

THIS  story,  devoid  of  literary  pretensions,  is 
a  simple  narration  of  day  by  day  experiences, 
as  they  came  to  me,  during  five  years  of  vol 
unteer  work  in  hospitals  of  the  Civil  War. 

At  the  risk  of  some  slight  repetition,  it  has  been 
thought  best  to  include  "  Recollections  of  Lincoln  " 
and  "  Love  in  Camp "  practically  as  they  were 
when  published  separately. 

I  wish  to  express  my  high  appreciation  and 
thanks  for  the  confidence  and  encouragement  of 
those  friends  who  thought  the  book  should  be  writ 
ten  that  the  younger  generations  may  know  some 
thing  of  the  work  done  by  women  during  the  war. 

To  the  Rev.  W.  M.  Brundage,  of  Brooklyn,  I  am 
especially  indebted  for  practical  suggestions  that 
have  made  the  publication  possible. 

With  some  limitations,  during  two  summers,  I 
betook  myself  to  the  unique  Seventh-day-Baptist 
University  town  of  Alfred,  New  York,  where  the 
story  was  written  on  the  picturesque  campus,  in  a 
pure  atmosphere  free  from  all  disturbing  elements. 

It  has  been  a  labor  of  love  and  pleasure  to  review 
the  old  scenes,  replete  though  they  were  with  suf 
fering  and  death,  for  the  thought  of  the  comfort  we 
were  able  to  give  to  the  "  Boys  "  and  the  remem 
brance  of  their  gratitude  remain.  In  no  other 
benevolent  work  of  my  life  was  the  reward  so  im- 


FOREWORD 


mediate  and  so  inspiring  as  in  this  ministration.  I 
have  given  real  names  and  literal  words  as  nearly 
as  possible,  except  in  cases  where  there  was  some 
thing  unpleasant  to  relate;  and  I  may  truly  add 
that,  even  to  be  young  again,  I  would  not  have 
missed  those  years  of  incessant  care  and  anxiety, 
given  in  the  hope  of  saving  brave  soldiers  for  their 
country  and  their  homes. 

A.  W.  S. 


CHAPTER  I 
A  VIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION 

"  Heartstrong  South  would  have  his  way 
Headstrong  North  had  said  him  nay, 
They  charged,  they  struck;  both  fell,  both  bled; 
Brain  rose  again  ungloved ;  " 
******* 

SIDNEY  LANIER,  Centennial  Poem. 

IT  is  not  my  intention  to  write  history,  but  it 
seems  advisable  to  mention  in  a  few  brief  notes 
or  extracts,  for  the  benefit  of  the  present  genera 
tion,  the  sentiments  held  during  the  Civil  War. 

When  the  first  Confederate  shot  was  fired  upon 
the  United  States  flag,  then  floating  over  Fort 
Sumter  in  Charleston  Harbor,  many  months  of  un 
rest,  foreboding,  and  apprehension  of  a  coming 
terror  were  experienced  by  the  people  of  the  North. 
This  fatal  shot  caused  the  separation  of  hitherto 
devoted  families;  fathers  and  sons  were  arrayed 
against  each  other,  some  in  hate,  some  in  sorrow; 
and  even  mothers,  wives  and  sisters  shared  this  un 
holy  animosity.  All  took  pronounced  sides  with 
North  or  South,  except  the  "  copperheads  ",  whom 
all  loyal  Northerners  despised. 

General  Winfield  Scott,  the  hero  of  many  a  hard 
fought  Mexican  battle,  though  quite  superannu 
ated,  was  still  in  command  of  the  United  States 
armies.  Imperative,  supercilious,  an  austere  dis 
ciplinarian,  usually  adorned  with  all  the  ornamenta 
tion  of  his  rank,  with  chapeau  and  white  plumes,  he 

(11) 


12    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

was,  especially  when  well  mounted,  a  conspicuous 
figure,  quite  justifying  his  sobriquet  of  "  Fuss  and 
Feathers  ". 

In  consequence  of  the  secession  of  South  Caro- 


GENERAL  WINFIELD   SCOTT 


Una,  on  December  2Oth,  1860,  General  Anderson, 
commander  of  the  forts  of  the  harbor  of  Charleston 
Bay,  evacuated  Fort  Moultrie  six  days  later. 
The   "  Star   of   the   West ",   bringing  reinforce- 


A  VIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION  13 

ments,  was  fired  upon  by  the  Confederates,  thus 
preventing  the  landing  of  United  States  troops. 

On  April  nth,  1861,  General  Anderson  refused 
an  order  to  surrender  to  General  Beauregard,  who, 
during  the  i2th  and  isth,  ordered  a  furious  bom 
bardment  from  the  surrounding  forts  upon  Fort 
Sumter.  Being  unprepared  for  the  attack,  General 
Anderson  was  compelled  to  capitulate  and  to  take 
refuge,  with  his  garrison,  on  ships  outside  the  har 
bor.  On  April  i4th,  1861,  however,  he  saved  the 
National  flag,  which  is  now  carefully  preserved  in 
the  Museum  of  the  War  Department  at  Washing 
ton,  no  casualties  having  occurred. 

The  fort  was  held  by  the  Confederates  till  the 
evacuation  of  Charleston,  February  lyth,  1865. 

On  April  i4th,  1865,  General  Anderson  had  the 
happiness  to  raise  the  old  flag  once  more,  with  his 
own  hands,  over  the  demolished  fort. 

The  following  extracts  from  an  unpublished  let 
ter  of  John  White  Chadwick  were  selected  and 
kindly  given  me  by  Mrs.  Chadwick. 

SOME  EXTRACTS   FROM  AN  ACCOUNT   OF  A  TRIP 

TO    CHARLESTON   AND    BACK 

ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  RAISING  OF  THE  FLAG 
ON  FORT  SUMTER  AFTER  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

"  Land,  ho !  " 

When  at  last  it  was  permitted  us  to  raise  this  cry, 
we  were  indeed  a  happy  company.  We  entered  into 
the  experience  of  Columbus  and  Cabot  and  Balboa. 
The  pilot  came  on  board.  He  told  us,  as  the  pilots 
always  did,  to  come  to  anchor,  and  we  obeyed  him. 
And  lying  there  on  the  still  water,  in  the  perfect  air, 


14    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

there  came  another  feeling  than  that  of  joy.  The  at 
mosphere  grew  heavy  with  deep  thoughts  and  wonder 
ful  associations.  Our  hearts  were  softened  and  our 
eyes  were  dashed  with  sudden  tears.  In  dark  and  lurid 
splendor,  all  the  great  events  of  four  long,  painful  years 
rose  up  before  us.  And  then  again  we  hoisted  anchor 
and  steamed  slowly  up  toward  the  city  in  the  deepen 
ing  twilight 

The  war  ships,  lying  there  like  terrible  grim  mon 
sters,  manned  their  rigging  as  we  passed,  and  cheered 
us  lustily.  But  there  was  something  in  our  throats 
forbidding  us  to  answer  them  with  equal  heartiness. 

Passing  under  the  battered  walls  of  Sumter,  we  sang 
with  trembling  voices,  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all 
blessings  flow  ".  And  to  the  left  was  Wagner  and  the 
ditch  where  Colonel  Shaw  was  buried  with  his  dark 
but  trusty  men. 

It  happened  so,  that  God  in  His  great  mercy,  per 
mitted  us  to  be  bearers  of  great  tidings  to  the  city— 
news  of  the  rebellion's  virtual  end  to  this  community 
which  saw  its  mad  beginning.  Once  shouted  from  our 
deck,  it  flew  from  wharf  to  wharf,  from  ship  to  ship, 
and  was  received  with  shouts  of  thankful  joy.  The 
night  shut  in  over  the  accursed  city  as  a  band  upon  the 
wharf  played  the  dear  strain  "  America  ".  It  was  a 
time  never  to  be  forgotten,  pregnant  with  thoughts 
that  must  remain  unspoken.  Before  I  tried  to  sleep  I 
stepped  ashore,  and,  just  for  a  moment,  standing  there 
under  the  silent  stars,  thanked  God  that  He  had 
punished  awf ul  sin  with  awful  retribution 

On  Friday,  just  after  ten  o'clock,  we  started  for  the 
fort  in  the  steamer  "  Golden  Gate  ",  which  the  Govern 
ment  officials  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal.  About  the 
fort  the  scene  was  at  once  beautiful  and  exciting. 
There  were  thirty  ships  and  steamers  in  its  immediate 
vicinity,  and  they  blossomed  all  over  with  flags.  And 
the  little  boats  belonging  to  the  war  ships  were  shoot 
ing  here  and  there  and  everywhere,  obedient  to  the 
lusty  strokes  of  their  stout  oarsmen,  dressed  for  the 
occasion  in  their  very  best. 


A  VIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION  15 

We  were  on  shore  by  half  past  twelve  o'clock,  and 
wandering  at  will  about  the  tattered  mound  that  had 
once  been  Fort  Sumter.  Indeed  they  had  made  "  Ossa 
like  a  wart ".  It  had  no  form  or  comeliness.  It  was 

a  perfect  heap Anon  came  General  Anderson 

and  Mr.  Beecher  and  the  rest.  The  General's  speech 
was,  for  so  great  an  hour,  the  very  smallest  possible 
affair.  But  when  it  came  to  raising  the  old  flag  he 
did  hoist  away  like  a  good  fellow,  and  it  went  up  right 
handsomely.  The  people  rose  up  as  one  man,  and 
shouted  their  hurrahs  as  if  they  thought  to  wake  the 
echoes  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Gulf.  And  the 
band  played  "  The  Star  Spangled  Banner  "  just  as  if 
they  meant  it, — as  they  did  of  course.  And  then  from 
ship  and  fort  the  cannon  thundered  away  like  mad .... 

And  When  they  ceased  with  their  roar  Mr. 

Beecher  took  it  up  and  thundered,  to  good  purpose, 
for  an  hour  or  more 

Saturday  saw  William  Lloyd  Garrison  preside  over 
an  assembly  of  two  thousand  colored  people,  if  not 
more,  in  Zion  Church,  and  noble  words  were  spoken 
which  these  people  did  not  fail  to  understand 

From  Charleston  wharf  to  Hampton  Roads  our  voy 
age  was  pleasant,  and  the  weather  very  fine 

Going  into  Hampton  Roads,  on  Tuesday,  swiftly  and 
silently  over  the  still  water,  we  saw  a  vessel  with  her 
colors  at  half  mast.  Not  long  after  a  pilot  shouted  to 
us  across  the  waves,  from  a  great  distance,  that  the 
President  was  dead.  Either  we  could  not  or  we  would 
not  believe  it. 

Another  vessel  sailed  along  with  drooping  colors  and 
told  us  how  he  died.  And  then  the  shadow  of  his  death 
swept  down  and  folded  from  our  sight  all  of  those 
great  and  rare  experiences  which  we  had  been  enjoy 
ing.  It  seemed  to  us  that  we  should  never  be  able  to 
recollect  them  from  that  shadow.  We  went  ashore  at 
the  great  fortress,  where  his  dear  feet  had  been, 
scarcely  a  week  before,  but  we  had  no  eyes  to  see  any 
thing  

It  had  been  proposed  to  go  to  Portsmouth,  Norfolk 


16    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

and  to  City  Point.  But  we  had  no  heart  for  it.  And 
so  we  came  together  in  the  cabin  and  voted  that  we 
would  go  home. 

JOHN  WHITE   CHADWICK. 

The  Government  called  for  seventy-five  thousand 
troops  on  April  i5th  to  put  down  the  rebellion  "  in 
ninety  days  ",  according  to  Secretary  Seward's  con 
fident  announcement. 

On  April  igth,  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Brigade,  first  to  respond  to  the  call,  was 
fired  upon  by  a  mob  while  passing  through  Balti 
more,  and  a  number  were  wounded  and  some  killed. 

The  Ellsworth  Zouaves  were  enlisted  chiefly 
through  the  enthusiastic  patriotism  of  young 
Colonel  Ellsworth,  who,  on  arriving  at  Alexandria 
with  his  regiment,  saw  a  Confederate  flag  flying 
above  a  small  hotel,  and  at  once  ordered  the  flag 
hauled  down.  This  was  refused,  and  the  indignant 
boy  rashly  rushed  to  the  roof,  and  dared  to  pull  it 
down  himself,  when  he  was  shot  dead  by  the  rebel 
owner.  Colonel  Ellsworth  was  killed  May  24th, 
1 86 1.  Lincoln's  grief  at  the  death  of  this  daring 
boy  was  overwhelming.  Ellsworth  had  studied 
law  with  him  for  a  time  in  his  office,  and  he  loved 
him  as  a  son ;  and  as  a  son  and  early  martyr  of  the 
war,  he  was  laid  in  state  at  the  White  House  for 
funeral  services. 

War  with  its  untold  horrors  had  begun. 

Meanwhile  it  was  becoming  evident  that  Presi 
dent  Buchanan  had  permitted,  or  had  at  least  be 
come  strangely  blind  to  the  introduction  of  foreign 


A  VIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION  17 

ammunition  into  Southern  ports,  while  the  traitor 
Secretary  Floyd,  still  under  oath  to  the  Union,  held 
his  office  until  the  last  possible  moment,  encourag 
ing  and  assisting  the  South  in  building  forts  and,  in 
many  ways,  accumulating  almost  openly  materials 
of  war. 

At  last  the  people  awoke  to  the  fact  that  many 
southern  regiments  and  garrisons  were  well 
equipped  for  the  conflict,  while  the  unsuspecting 
North  was  almost  wholly  unprepared.  People  had 
become  so  accustomed  to  "  fire-eaters'  bluster " 
and  their  threats  and  boastings  of  the  superior 
prowess  of  the  South  that,  if  they  listened  at  all,  it 
was  considered  mere  political  bombast  which 
passed  unheeded  until  war  was  actually  begun. 

In  November,  1861,  General  McClellan  super- 
ceded  General  Scott,  who  then  retired  from  active 
duty,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  died  later  at 
the  good  old  age  of  eighty. 

General  McClellan  began  a  slow  thorough  sys 
tem  of  discipline,  which  was  very  trying  to  the  en 
thusiasm  of  volunteer  recruits,  who  soon  discovered 
that  to  use  the  pick  and  shovel  were  as  essential 
duties  as  carrying  a  musket,  and  were  now  com 
pelled  to  work  in  swamps  and  trenches  throwing 
up  earthworks  and  entrenchments  for  many  long 
months. 

The  impatient  public  claimed  that  egotism  and 
ambition  prevented  General  McClellan  from  mov 
ing  "  on  to  Richmond  ",  thus  prolonging  the  war, 
and  his  army  settled  down  before  the  enemy  "  in 


18    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

masterly  inactivity  ".  During  this  time  many  dis 
gruntled  soldiers  climbed  hills  and  trees  and  saw 
the  city  of  Richmond  practically  defenseless  "  for 
three  days  ".  Still  he  did  not  move.  This  large 
army  had  lived  and  worked  in  earthworks  for  many 


GENERAL    GEORGE    B.    McCLELLAN 


weary  months,  until  malaria  and  dysentery  had  sent 
hundreds  of  incapacitated  soldiers  North  to  be 
cared  for.  They  were  among  the  first  bitter  fruits 
of  the  terrible  struggle  scarcely  yet  begun. 

Not  long  after  the  defeat  at  Bull  Run  —  Ma- 
nassas,  —  both  sides  claimed  the  victory,  —  did 


A  VIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION  19 

we  for  a  moment  believe  that  Southern  courage 
was  equal  to  Northern  valor  in  an  open  conflict,  or 
that  the  rebellion  could  not  be  put  down  within  a 
few  months;  and  so  we  stood  aghast  when  the  at 
tack  under  General  McDowell  failed  to  put  down 
the  rebellion  in  a  single  battle. 

General  Horatio  C.  King,  in  his  address  before 
the  thirty-seventh  reunion  of  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac,  repeated  these  potent  words  of  General 
Grant : 

"As  I  recall  the  interview  General  Grant  spoke 
in  substance  as  follows :  *  I  cannot  imagine  why 
any  one  should  conceive  for  a  moment  that  I  would 
not  be  glad  to  work  in  any  capacity  with  General 
McClellan.  I  have  known  him  but  little  person 
ally  since  we  served  together  in  Mexico,  but  I  have 
always  admired  him  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  soldier, 
and  I  am  probably  under  greater  obligations  to 
General  McClellan  than  to  any  one  man  now  living. 
General  McClellan  was  called  to  a  great  command, 
unfortunately  for  him  too  early  in  the  history  of  the 
war,  when  many  difficult  military  and  political 
questions  remained  unsettled.  He  and  his  acts 
were  the  subject  of  wide  discussion  and  unjust  crit 
icism,  but  General  McClellan  was  the  man  who 
created  the  great  instrumentality  with  which  I  had 
the  honor  of  closing  out  the  rebellion.  General 
McClellan  organized,  trained,  disciplined,  led,  and 
inspired  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  General  Mc 
Clellan  made  that  army  the  finest  fighting  machine 
of  our  day,  if  not  of  any  time.  It  was  his  good 


20    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

work  in  creating  that  army  which  enabled  me  in 
my  turn  to  accomplish  the  things  for  which  I  re 
ceived  the  glory,  and  for  all  of  which  I  am  grateful 
to  General  McClellan.'  " 


LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL      21 


CHAPTER  II 

LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL, 
BROOKLYN 

IN  July,  1862,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pa 
tients  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  were  sent 
to  the  Long  Island  College  Hospital.  No  ade 
quate  preparation  had  been  made  to  provide  for 
these  sick  men.  Through  the  press  a  public  call 
was  sent  out  for  volunteers.  Many  ladies  and  gen 
tlemen  at  once  offered  to  help  care  for  the  sick, 
and  to  supply  food  for  their  emaciated  bodies. 

An  endorsement  of  the  distinguished  physician 
of  Romson  Street,  Dr.  Burge,  made  me  quite  happy 
by  affording  me  the  privilege  of  helping  to  care  for 
the  soldiers  in  our  city. 

Among  the  large  number  of  our  best  Brooklyn 
people  to  volunteer  their  help  and  support  was  our 
saintly  Mrs.  Richard  Manning,  who  continued  her 
ministration  throughout  the  long  duration  of  the 
war,  and  for  many  years  after  gave  substantial  help 
to  the  destitute  families  of  soldiers;  and  also  Mrs. 
Anna  C.  Field,  chief  organizer  and  president  of  the 
Woman's  Club,  as  well  as  of  the  Woman's  Suffra 
gist  Association.  Both  of  these  clubs  celebrated, 
during  the  spring  of  1909,  in  the  new  Brooklyn 
Academy  of  Music,  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  their 
organization.  I  believe  that,  in  modern  Brooklyn, 
no  other  woman  has  done  so  much,  in  her  long  life 
of  benevolence  and  charity,  as  this  Mother  of 


22    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Brooklyn  Clubs,  for  the  elevation  and  encourage 
ment  of  women  especially  in  ethics  and  literature. 

Watches  of  four  hours  each  during  the  day  were 
assigned  to  the  women,  and  at  night  the  same  num 
ber  of  hours  were  allotted  to  men  volunteers. 


MRS.    ANNA    C.    FIELD 

Owing  to  the  astonishing  liberality  of  the  citizens 
of  Brooklyn,  the  hospital  donations  seemed  like  a 
great  cornucopia  overflowing  the  larders  of  the  im 
provised  kitchen.  Tender,  motherly  care,  com 
bined  with  the  best  of  diet,  at  once  restored  many  a 
poor,  hungry  homesick  boy.  Most  of  them  recov- 


LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL      23 

ered  and  returned  to  their  regiments  or  were  sent 
home. 

My  first  patient  was  a  bright,  cheerful  young 
man,  Allan  Foote,  of  Michigan,  who  had  been  dan 
gerously  wounded  by  a  shot  that  passed  through 
the  left  lung  and  out  at  his  back.  Such  wounds 


ALLAN    FOOTE 


were  then  supposed  to  be  fatal.  He  was,  however, 
convalescent,  and  later  was  discharged.  When  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Michigan  he  again  enlisted, 
raised  a  company,  and  went  out  once  more  to  the 
front  as  captain.  This  time  he  served  till  the  end 


24    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

of  the  war,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  State 
safe  and  well. 

A  lady,  wishing  to  say  something  flattering  of 
him  to  a  visitor,  remarked :  "  Why,  he  was  shot 
right  in  his  back  ".  Seeing  the  boy  wince  at  this 
innocent  imputation,  I  explained  that  he  had  re 
ceived  that  shot  in  the  breast  while  facing  the 
enemy  in  battle. 

Among  many  incidents  of  his  early  army  life, 
Allan  Foote  told  me  the  following : 

"  I  shall  never  forget  his  expression  when  my 
father  gave  his  written  consent  to  my  enlistment  in 
the  army  in  April  of  '61,  as  he  handed  it  to  me  and 
said,  while  tears  were  running  down  his  cheeks, 
'  My  son,  do  your  duty,  die  if  it  must  be,  but  never 
prove  yourself  a  coward.'  We  can  hardly  imagine 
at  what  cost  that  was  given,  and  it  is  now  a  source 
of  much  satisfaction  to  me  to  know  that  God  in  His 
mercy  so  guided  me  while  in  the  service  that  no 
action  of  mine  has  ever  caused  a  pain  to  my  father's 
heart,  and  when  I  returned  at  the  close  of  the  war 
he  seemed  as  proud  of  my  scars  as  I  was." 

John  Sherman  was  a  remarkable  case  of  lost  iden 
tity.  He  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  six  feet  in 
height,  with  broad  shoulders  and  a  Washingtonian 
head,  and  seemed  like  some  great  prone  statue  as 
he  lay  perfectly  helpless  but  for  one  hand, — a  gentle 
fair-haired  boy  to  whom  we  became  much  attached. 
He  was  evidently  refined,  and  perfectly  clear  on  re 
ligious  and  political  subjects.  Though  without  a 
wound  he  had  been  completely  paralyzed  by  con- 


LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL       25 

cussion  caused  by  a  cannon.  He  could  take  only 
infants'  food  and  drank  milk,  which  was  all  the 
nourishment  he  could  retain.  The  mystery  was 
that  he  claimed  to  come  from  Cattaraugus  County, 
N.  Y.,  but  when  I  wrote  letters  to  every  possible 
locality,  nothing  could  be  learned  of  such  a  boy; 
nor  could  the  officers  of  his  regiment  trace  him  dur 
ing  this  time.  Some  scamp  who  claimed  to  come 
from  his  town,  was  admitted  through  the  careless 
ness  of  the  hospital  attendants,  and  so  deceived  the 
poor  boy  that  he  gave  him  ninety  dollars  army  pay 
just  received,  to  send  home  to  his  father.  Of  course 
the  scamp  was  never  heard  of  again.  My  theory  is 
that  he  enlisted  under  an  assumed  name  and  town, 
and  had,  after  the  concussion,  forgotten  his  real 
name  and  identity.  He  was  sent  to  the  Fifty- 
second  Street  hospital,  where  I  saw  him  a  year  later, 
walking  alone  and  quite  well,  —  a  finely  developed 
physical  form.  Though  he  knew  me,  he  held  to 
his  old  statement.  Later  he  was  cruelly  persuaded 
to  ask  for  a  discharge  which  left  him  homeless,  with 
no  refuge  but  the  poor  house. 

Soldiers'  homes  were  then  unknown;  and  I  fear 
that,  at  least  for  a  while,  he  was  cared  for  as  a 
pauper.  About  this  time  I  went  to  the  "  field 
work  "  and  lost  sight  of  him,  though  I  have  often 
wondered  what  his  fate  has  been. 

A  miserably  thin,  gaunt  boy,  whom  we  knew  as 
"  Say ",  came  under  my  observation.  He  was 
never  satisfied,  though  he  ate  enormously,  and 
whenever  we  passed  through  his  ward  he  invariably 


26    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

shouted :  "  Say !  ye  ain't  got  no  pie  nor  cake,  nor 
cheese,  nor  nuthin',  hev  ye?"  When  he  reached 
home,  his  father,  a  farmer,  sent  to  the  hospital  the 
largest  cheese  I  ever  saw.  This  the  men  all  craved ; 
but  it  was  a  luxury  denied  them  by  the  doctors. 
Patients  often  had  it  smuggled  in.  One  poor  fel 
low  was  found  dead,  one  morning,  with  a  package 
of  cheese  under  his  pillow. 

As  the  "  L.  I.  C.  H."  was  a  city  hospital,  emer 
gency  and  other  cases  were  often  brought  in.  A 
pathetic  case  was  that  of  a  little  boy  about  six  years 
old,  who  had  been  run  over  by  a  street  car.  As  he 
lay,  pale  and  mangled,  awaiting  the  time  to  have  his 
leg  amputated,  his  mother,  in  broken  English, 
crooned  and  mourned  over  the  unconscious  child, 
saying,  "Ach,  mine  liddle  poy,  he  will  nefer  run  mit 
odder  poys  in  the  street  and  haf  not  any  more  good 
times."  I  saw  that  the  child  would  not  live  through 
the  operation,  and  tried  to  comfort  the  poor  mother 
while  it  was  going  on.  When  the  mutilated,  stark 
little  form  was  returned  to  her,  her  grief  knew  no 
bounds,  though  she  still  believed  he  would  revive. 

In  another  ward  poor  Isaac  was  slowly  dying  of 
dysentery,  gasping  for  a  drink  of  cool  water,  which 
the  rules  of  the  profession  at  that  day  denied  to 
such  patients.  Day  after  day  he  lay  helpless,  while 
a  large  water  cooler  dripped  constantly  day  and 
night  before  his  feverish  eyes  and  parched  body. 

One  day  he  called  to  me  and  said :  "  Won't  you 
please  sit  on  my  cot  so  I  can  rest  my  knees  against 
your  back?  They  are  so  tired  and  I  can't  hold 


LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL      27 

them  up ",  —  poor  fleshless  bones  that  had  no 
weight.  Somewhat  relieved  while  I  sat  there  he 
went  on :  "  Now,  Miss  Smith,  you  think  I  am  dy 
ing,  don't  you?  " 


ADELAIDE   W.    SMITH,    1863 


"  Well,  Isaac,"  I  replied  hesitatingly,  "  we  fear 
you  are." 

Then  with  all  the  strength  of  his  poor  skeleton 
body,  he  exclaimed,  "  O  then,  give  me  a  drink  of 


28    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

water  that  I  may  die  easier.     You  know  I  am  dy 
ing,  so  it  can  do  no  harm." 

Could  I  refuse  a  dying  man  a  drink  of  water, 
even  in  the  face  of  orders  ?  He  wanted  "  just  a 
pint  ".  Watching  my  chance  I  went  quickly  to  the 
cooler  and  brought  a  glass  of  cool  water.  With 
unnatural  strength  he  raised  himself  and,  reach 
ing  out  for  the  glass,  grasped  it  and  swallowed 
the  water  with  one  great  gulp.  Then  returning 
the  empty  glass  he  cried :  "  There,  that  was  just 
half!  O,  give  me  the  other  half."  This  I  did, 
rather  fearfully.  After  greedily  drinking  the  water 
he  dropped  back  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  saying  — 
"  Now  I  can  die  easy  ".  I  arranged  quietly  with 
my  patients  in  the  ward  so  that  he  could  have  water 
as  long  as  he  lived ;  but  not  many  days  after  I  found 
his  empty  cot. 

The  hospital,  at  that  time,  was  little  known,  be 
ing  quite  obscured  under  the  limitations  of  two? 
conservative,  retrogressive  old  doctors,  who 
showed  no  favor  or  sympathy  for  the  sick  men, 
and  seemed  to  see  them  only  as  probable  "  sub 
jects  ". 

Many  just  protests  from  the  kindly  women  work 
ers  were  utterly  disregarded  by  these  doctors.  Dr. 
Colton,  a  handsome  young  man  then  an  interne, 
though  not  of  age  or  yet  graduated,  found  himself 
often  between  the  "  upper  and  nether  millstones  " 
of  the  urgency  of  volunteer  workers,  and  the  im 
movable,  implacable  heads  of  the  hospital.  Dr. 
Colton,  now  a  successful  retired  physician,  occupies 


LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL       29 

a  prominent  position  in  this  hospital  which,  in  late 
years,  is  ranked  among  the  very  best  of  Brooklyn's 
institutions. 

Meanwhile  the  people  grew  tired  of  the  continual 
demand  for  supplies,  toward  which  the  hospital 
contributed  very  little,  though  it  drew  regularly 
from  the  government  "  rations "  in  the  form  of 
thirty-seven  cents  per  day  for  each  man.  Conse 
quently  public  contributions  became  very  meagre. 

Then  in  the  autumn  came  ninety-one  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  who  stood  —  or  dropped  — 
on  the  grass  plots  surrounding  the  hospital  while 
waiting  to  be  enrolled.  A  procession  of  grey  skel 
etons,  they  were  ghastly,  dirty,  famished,  with 
scarcely  the  semblance  of  men.  One  of  them 
stared  at  me  rather  sharply  and,  seeing  that  I  ob 
served  it,  said,  "  Excuse  me,  ma'am,  I  haven't  seen 
a  white  woman  before  in  many  months,  an'  it  seems 
good  to  look  at  you." 

It  became  difficult  to  get  proper  food  in  the  hos 
pital  for  the  men.  Some  of  the  volunteers,  like 
myself,  could  still  give  their  whole  time  and  thought 
gratuitously,  and  we  continued  bringing  supplies 
from  our  homes  for  special  cases.  My  mother  sent 
gallons  of  shell  clam  juice,  —  the  most  healing  of 
all  natural  tonics  when  boiled  in  the  shell,  —  which 
became  popular  in  the  hospital.  My  mother  also 
invited  companies  of  four  or  five  convalescents  at  a 
time  to  "  a  good  square  meal  ",  when  they  always 
chose  for  their  suppers,  coffee,  buckwheat  cakes 
and  sausages.  Two  gallons  of  batter  would  be- 


30    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

come  hot  cakes;  and  it  took  the  combined  help  of 
the  whole  family  and  the  cook  to  keep  them  sup 
plied;  but  the  hungry  boys  were  at  last  satisfied 
and  happy.  I  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  passes 
for  them,  as  they  felt  in  honor  bound  to  return 
promptly  to  the  hospital. 

One  poor  fellow,  dying  of  typhoid,  was  so  irri 
table  and  profane  to  the  ignorant,  heartless  men- 
nurses  of  the  hospital,  that  they  would  not  care  for 
him  during  the  night.  Realizing  that  the  end  was 
near,  and  feeling  certain  that  he  would  otherwise 
die  alone,  I  decided  one  night  to  remain  with  him 
until  his  last  breath.  Just  before  he  died,  even 
while  the  pallor  of  death  overspread  his  face,  he 
struck  at  the  nurse  whom  I  had  compelled  to  stay 
near  to  help  him.  At  last  the  poor  dying  man 
gasped :  "  Lift  me  up  higher !  higher !  higher ! !  " 
We  raised  the  poor  skeleton  as  high  as  we  could 
reach,  —  and  it  was  all  over.  His  family  refused 
his  body,  saying,  "  He  was  no  good  to  us  in'  life, 
why  should  we  bury  him?  "  It  is  not  difficult  to 
imagine  that  his  home  influences  had  been  unfa 
vorable  to  the  development  of  moral  character. 

Clancy,  then  a  fine  looking,  kindly  policeman, 
had  waited  to  take  me  home  near  morning,  as  he 
did  on  other  occasions  of  this  kind. 

Some  months  later,  being  almost  the  only  young 
woman  still  visiting  the  hospital,  I  felt  obliged  to 
report  to  that  rarely  good  man,  Mr.  McMullen,  — 
whose  benevolence  and  generosity  had  at  first 
brought  the  patients  to  the  hospital  and  to  the  care 


LONG  ISLAND  COLLEGE  HOSPITAL      31 

of  the  people,  —  the  neglect  of  soldiers,  who  were 
then  treated  like  charity  patients.  He  immediately 
reported  these  conditions  to  the  medical  depart 
ment,  and  the  men  were  removed  to  the  govern 
ment  hospitals,  which  were  by  this  time  system 
atized  and  in  good  running  order. 

After  the  patients  had  been  transferred  from  the 
Long  Island  College  Hospital,  I  secured  a  pass  on 
the  steamboat  Thomas  P.  Way,  to  visit  hospitals 
of  the  "  Department  of  the  East ",  in  charge  of 
Surgeon  McDougall,  a  thorough  disciplinarian, 
and  a  just,  kind  man. 

David's  Island,  on  the  Sound,  had  a  finely  con 
ducted  hospital,  with  a  diet  kitchen  in  charge  of 
ladies.  There  I  saw  hundreds  of  well-fed,  happy 
Confederate  patients,  so  many,  indeed,  that  they 
could  not  be  supplied  at  once  with  proper  clothing, 
and  so  made  a  unique  appearance  as  they  walked 
about  in  dressing  gowns,  white  drawers,  and  slip 
pers.  They  were  soon  to  be  exchanged  for  our 
own  poor  skeleton  "Boys"  who  were  coming  home 
slowly  and  painfully,  some  dying  on  the  way,  to  be 
met  by  kindly  hands  and  aching  hearts  eagerly 
awaiting  them. 

Fort  Schuyler  Hospital,  on  the  East  River,  was 
formed  like  a  wheel,  the  hub  being  headquarters 
and  the  spokes  extending  into  wards  for  patients. 
One  young  man  of  much  refinement  had  been  at 
one  of  our  home  suppers,  and  afterwards  the  com 
pany  made  a  pact  that  if  we  were  alive  one  year 
from  that  date  we  should  hear  each  from  the  other. 


32    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

He  exclaimed  —  "  Dead  or  alive,  you  shall  hear 
from  me !  "  Being  a  spiritualist  he  believed  this 
possible.  He  was  sent  to  Fort  Schuyler  and  one 
month  later  died  of  small-pox.  At  the  appointed 
date  and  hour  a  year  later,  I  thought  of  this  pact 
and  tried  to  put  myself  in  a  receptive  state.  I  did 
not,  however,  see  him  nor  feel  any  manifestation 
of  his  spirit. 


BEDLOE'S  ISLAND  33 


CHAPTER  III 
BEDLOE'S  ISLAND   (NOW  LIBERTY) 

A  NUMBER  of  influential  ladies  of  New  York 
City  had  formed  a  society  named  "  Park 
Barracks  Association".  By  permission  of  the 
Mayor,  barracks  were  put  up  in  the  City  Hall  Park 
for  temporary  accommodation  of  soldiers.  But 
of  that  particular  work  I  knew  very  little.  These 
ladies  had,  however,  extended  their  benevolence  to 
Bedloe's  Island.  They  had,  somehow,  heard  of  my 
work,  and  a  committee  waited  upon  me  with  an  in 
vitation  to  accompany  them,  by  the  Thomas  P. 
Way,  on  its  regular  trip  to  the  department  hospitals 
on  the  river,  including  Bedloe's  Island,  three  and  a 
half  miles  down  New  York  Bay,  where  they  wished 
me  to  take  charge  of  their  "  diet  kitchen  ".  Fort 
Wood  still  stands  on  one  side  of  the  island,  little 
changed  since  1862.  At  that  time  twenty  wards 
were  filled  with  about  eighty  patients. 

The  first  floor  of  the  square  brick  building  on  the 
New  York  side  was  used  as  a  dispensary,  and  the 
diet  kitchen  was  also  located  here.  On  the  second 
floor  were  the  quarters  of  sick  officers,  occupied  at 
that  time  by  only  one  officer  who  had  been  wounded 
at  Antietam.  Comfortable  rooms  on  the  third 
floor  became  my  apartments. 

Each  lady  had  a  different  opinion  concerning  the 
management  of  the  kitchen,  and  urged  the  wisdom 


34    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


of  her  particular  plan.  I  soon  discovered,  however, 
that  Surgeon  Campbell,  in  charge  of  the  hospital, 
had  been  so  annoyed  by  the  irregular  work  of  these 
ladies,  that  he  had  threatened  to  close  the  kitchen. 
Small  wonder,  when  a  different  lady  came  each 


SURGEON    CAMPBELL 

week  and  spent  most  of  her  time  in  undoing  the 
work  of  her  predecessor!  They  were  extremely 
anxious  to  have  me  take  charge  at  once,  but  I 
asked  for  twenty-four  hours  in  which  to  consider, 
though  my  mind  was  already  made  up.  This  being 


BEDLOE'S  ISLAND  35 

a  volunteer  work,  I  wrote  the  next  day,  saying  that 
I  would  take  charge  of  the  kitchen  on  one  condi 
tion  —  namely,  that  I  should  have  no  interference 
or  direction  from  any  member  of  the  Association. 
This  they  thought  rather  severe,  but  it  was  my 
ultimatum.  They  were  glad  to  accept  my  terms, 
however,  in  order  that  they  might  continue  their 
benevolent  work  on  the  island. 

The  day  after  I  took  charge,  Surgeon  Campbell 
came  into  the  kitchen  for  inspection  and  stood 
aghast  at  the  "  confusion  worse  confounded  ".  I 
was  standing  on  a  chair  in  a  closet,  throwing  in 
heaps  on  the  floor  endless  packages  from  the 
shelves.  I  laughed  at  his  despairing  expression, 
and  said,  "  Doctor,  do  not  expect  any  order  within 
three  days,  till  these  incongruous  piles  are  classi 
fied  ".  There  were  shoes  and  cornstarch,  "  trig 
ger  "  finger  gloves  and  dried  apples,  shirts  and 
beans,  "  feetings  "  and  comfort  bags,  and  so  on  ad  i 
infinitum. 

The  clothing  supplies  I  now  separated  from  the 
food  donations,  and  had  them  sent  up  to  my  rooms, 
where,  later,  the  men  came  with  their  demands,  or 
with  written  orders  from  the  ladies,  one  or  more  of 
whom  came  every  day.  I  soon  discovered  that, 
owing  to  a  lack  of  system,  some  of  the  men  had 
succeeded  in  getting  four  shirts  instead  of  one ;  but 
I  concluded  that  they  were  four  times  colder  than 
their  warmer-hearted  comrades. 

At  last  out  of  confusion  came  order.  With  the 
help  of  Surgeon  Campbell  I  planned  a  printed  list, 


36    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

lacking  only  the  addition  of  the  date,  name  of  sur 
geon,  and  number  of  ward  to  which  were  to  be 
added  each  day's  orders.  I  went  over  this  at  night, 
frequently  adding  extras,  and  in  the  morning  it  was 
sent  to  the  different  wards  when  the  ward  masters 
came  for  breakfast.  The  doctors  then  selected  the 
proper  diet  for  their  patients,  and  the  list  was  re 
turned  before  ten  o'clock. 

Four  detailed  soldiers  acted  as  cooks  and  help 
ers.  Andrew,  a  practical,  kindly  Scotchman,  be 
came  head  cook;  and  altogether  we  were  much 
gratified  by  our  good  fare.  Our  success  along  this 
line  was  made  easier  by  liberal  government  sup 
plies,  and  the  generous  donations  of  the  Associa 
tion,  which  gave  me  "carte  blanche  "  for  special 
cases.  Our  system  worked  admirably.  When  the 
dinner  bugle  sounded,  the  ward  masters  ran  with 
their  trays  and  pails;  the  first  in  order  calling  out 
his  ward  number  as  he  entered.  I  read  aloud  from 
one  of  the  twenty  lists,  which  varied  slightly  each 
day,  and  were  kept  hanging  in  a  row.  For  ex 
ample  : 

"  ORDER  FOR  SPECIAL  DIET 

U.  S.  Convalescent  Hospital 

Fort  Wood 

1863 

Ward Dr 

Dinner,  Supper,  Breakfast,  Remarks 

Tea 

Cocoa 

Coffee 

Etc.,  etc. 

Ward.  .  .  .coffee  for  6,  tea  5,  chicken  7,  roast  beef 
10,  whisky  punches  5,  egg  nogs,  etc." 


BEDLOE'S  ISLAND  37 

The  cook  served  meats  and  vegetables,  one 
served  tea,  coffee  or  milk  in  pails,  while  I  managed 
the  jellies,  stimulants,  etc.  We  soon  reduced  the 
time  of  distribution  for  eighty  patients  to  fifteen 
minutes. 

When  Surgeon  McDougall,  in  charge  of  the  de 
partment,  came  with  his  staff  to  inspect  our  kitchen, 
they  waited  till  all  was  served  to  the  ward  masters, 
and  then  he  said :  "  Miss  Smith,  you  have  the  best 
conducted  kitchen  in  the  Department."  Having 
had  little  experience  in  cooking,  this  was  a  very 
pleasant  surprise.  The  inspection  was  continued 
by  a  member  of  the  staff  passing  his  white-gloved 
hand  over  the  range  and  sides  of  the  iron  kettles, 
etc.,  which  the  men  kept  so  clean  that  they  left  no 
trace.  The  men  were  also  made  happy  by  the  ap 
proval  of  the  inspectors. 

In  addition  to  this  we  made  large  puddings  for 
the  twenty  wards,  ten  each  day  being  all  that  our 
ovens  could  hold. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Surgeon  Campbell,  a  cour 
teous  Scotch  gentleman  and  strict  disciplinarian,  I 
wore  a  dress  of  officers'  blue  with  infantry  buttons, 
medical  cadet  shoulder  straps  with  green  bands 
and  gilt  braid  in  the  centre. 

The  Thomas  P.  Way  came  daily  at  10  A.  M. 
bringing  ladies  of  the  Association  and  many  other 
visitors.  Andrew  had  learned  to  make  "  perfect 
cocoa  ",  which  I  had  served  to  the  guests  in  my 
rooms,  where,  from  the  large  windows,  they  en- 


38    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

joyed  the  fine  view  of  Long  Island,  New  Jersey 
and  New  York  shores. 


LIBERTY  " 


This  was  before  the  days  of  "  Liberty  Island  ", 
which  later  was  made  immortal  by  the  gift  of  the 


BEDLOE'S  ISLAND  39 

French  people  and  the  great  sculptor  Bartholdi, 
whose  heroic  statue  was  to  have  been  completed 
for  the  great  centennial  fair  of  1876.  Failing  to 
accomplish  this  in  time,  he  sent  to  Philadelphia  the 
arm  holding  the  torch  which  now  lights  the  bay, 
and  is  a  well  known  signal  light  to  incoming  ves 
sels.  While  in  Philadelphia,  attending  the  exposi 
tion,  with  seven  friends  I  climbed  the  narrow  lad 
der  in  the  arm,  and  all  were  able  to  sit  in  the  circle 
of  the  great  torch,  now  upheld  by  "  Liberty  ". 

DAILY  ROUTINE 

Each  morning  I  awoke  at  George's  call  —  "  Ha'f- 
a-pas-seex".  Andrew  would  send  up  a  good  break 
fast  for  two,  as  there  was  always  some  lady  friend 
or  one  of  my  younger  sisters  to  keep  me  company 
at  night.  No  other  woman  except  the  wives  and 
friends  of  the  officers  at  the  fort  were  allowed  to 
remain  on  the  island.  The  cooks  soon  learned  to 
manage  the  men's  breakfast  without  me. 

At  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  a  dozen  or  more  men  came 
to  my  door  with  orders  from  the  ladies  for  under 
wear  and  many  comforts.  George,  who  did  the 
work  of  a  chambermaid,  having  cleared  up  my  re 
ception  room  (I  did  my  own  sleeping  room)  I  then 
descended  into  the  kitchen  and  immersed  myself  in 
the  work  of  making  jellies  and  other  delicacies, 
while  I  had  four  disabled  soldiers  preparing  meats, 
vegetables,  etc. 

At  ten  A.  M.  came  the  boat,  bringing  guests  for 
luncheon,  when  we  had  officers,  sisters  of  charity, 


40    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

clergymen,  and  friends  of  the  patients  to  entertain, 
all  of  whom  needed  advice  or  a  pleasant  word. 
This  caused  many  interruptions ;  but  was  a  pleasant 
break  in  the  monotony  of  hospital  life. 

The  visitors  left  on  the  four  P.  M.  boat.  I  then 
inspected  the  various  wards  and  discovered  many 
delinquencies  on  the  part  of  the  men  nurses  of 
which  the  patients  were  afraid  to  complain.  Occa 
sionally  there  was  time  for  a  walk  around  the  sea 
wall,  and  then  came  the  men's  supper  at  five  P.  M. 

At  six  dinner  was  served  in  my  reception  room 
for  my  friends  and  myself,  and  Andrew  insisted 
upon  its  being  a  good  one.  After  that  officers  and 
their  ladies  sometimes  called. 

When  the  wind  howled  and  the  waves  dashed 
high  against  the  sea  wall,  we  could  see  the  twink 
ling  lights  of  the  city  while  we  sat  talking  and  rest 
ing  till  "  taps  ".  Then  came  George  to  attend  to 
his  wonderful  coal  fires  in  very  large  open  grates, 
which  never  burned  low  or  dropped  ashes  on  the 
bright  polished  hearth.  His  greatest  reward  was 
a  pleasant  word  about  the  fires  and  he  would  smile 
in  happiness.  Then  he  brought  a  bucket  of  salt 
water  fresh  from  the  bay  for  my  nightly  bath,  after 
which  we  retired  to  our  comfortable  cots,  where 
we  slept  restfully  till  awakened  by  the  usual  "  Ha'f- 
a-pas-seex  ". 

I  remember  an  incident  in  which  human  per 
versity  strongly  asserted  itself.  General  Wool, 
then  Commander  of  the  Department  of  the  East, 
sent  an  order  that  "  No  one  be  allowed  to  leave  the 


BEDLOE'S  ISLAND  41 

island  till  further  orders  ".  It  was  suspected  that 
spies  were  stealing  information  from  the  forts.  No 
one  was  permitted  to  go  even  aboard  the  boat 
which  brought  daily  supplies. 

At  once  we  felt  ourselves  prisoners,  and  an  irre 
sistible  desire  to  escape  to  the  city  haunted  me 
every  hour  of  the  day.  I  was  actually  planning  to 
elude  the  guards  and  to  be  rowed  in  a  little  boat  to 
the  city,  —  three  and  one-half  miles  from  the 
island,  —  when  the  order  was  revoked,  and  I  sud 
denly  discovered  that  I  had  no  urgent  object  for 
making  the  trip. 

The  post  chaplain  drew  very  few  to  his  services. 
One  patient  remarked  "  We  can  sleep  much  better 
in  our  cots  than  in  the  chapel  ".  One  Sunday  after 
noon,  after  considerable  effort,  I  succeeded  in 
raising  a  quartette  among  the  non-commissioned 
officers.  I  then  went  to  all  the  wards,  urging  the 
men  to  come  to  our  services,  promising  them  some 
good  old-time  hymns.  The  chaplain  was  much 
surprised  and  gratified  at  this  sudden  increase  in 
his  congregation,  and  this  improvement  was  main 
tained  till  most  of  the  patients  had  left  the  island. 

At  last  orders  were  read  for  all  convalescents  to 
report  to  their  regiments.  This  quite  emptied  the 
wards  and  took  my  staff  of  domestic  helpers.  I 
had  a  busy  time  supplying  the  Boys  with  necessary 
articles  and  luxuries,  and  "  comfort  bags  "  contain 
ing  sewing  material  were  in  great  demand!  In 
some  of  these  were  found  letters  that  led  to  cor 
respondence  and  in  many  cases  to  romance. 


42    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

As  the  "Way"  left  the  wharf,  these  grateful 
men  expressed  their  thanks  by  rousing  cheers  to 
the  surgeons  and  nurses  who  had  taken  such  good 
care  of  them.  Then  came  three  more  cheers  for 
the  kind  ladies  who  had  given  them  so  many  lux 
uries  and  comforting  words.  Being  the  only  lady 
present  I  waved  a  hearty  good-bye  for  all  these 
kindly  women. 

My  work  there  was  practically  over,  as  the  few 
patients  who  were  left  could  be  supplied  from  the 
regular  mess  hall,  so  I  returned  to  my  home  in 
Brooklyn. 

Some  days  later  I  crossed  Fulton  Ferry  and,  to 
my  surprise,  found  Broadway  deserted.  The  draft 
riot  was  spreading.  From  the  isth  to  the  i6th  of 
July,  1863,  the  streets  were  practically  given  over 
to  a  crowd  of  hoodlum  boys  brandishing  clubs  and 
sticks,  rushing  wildly  and  howling  "  Niggers,  nig 
gers  !  Hang  the  niggers !  "  They  did  hang  some 
to  lamp  posts.  Negro  shanties  were  fired  and  oc 
cupants  driven  into  the  flames.  A  colored  orphan 
asylum  was  attacked  and  burned.  One  poor  fellow 
was  chased  for  miles,  and  at  last  he  jumped  into  a 
pool  of  water,  preferring  to  drown  rather  than  to 
be  hanged  or  beaten  to  death.  This  riot,  the  most 
disgraceful  and  cowardly  of  all  horrible  crimes  that 
ever  disgraced  modern  New  York  City,  resulted  in 
the  death  of  nearly  one  thousand  people,  mostly 
negroes,  and  was  incited  by  two  copperheads  whose 
names  should  be  abhorred  forever. 

A   handsome   boy   patient   of   about   seventeen 


BEDLOE'S  ISLAND  43 

years  attached  himself  to  me,  much  to  my  annoy 
ance,  and  I  found  it  difficult  to  give  him  the  atten 
tion  he  desired.  At  last,  however,  to  my  great  re 
lief,  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  his  regiment, 
whence  he  wrote  frequently.  About  six  months 
later,  to  my  astonishment,  he  came  to  my  home, 
saying,  "  I  was  so  homesick  I  just  had  to  come, 
and  I  ran  away  without  asking  for  a  furlough  ". 
Of  course  he  was  liable  to  arrest  as  a  deserter,  and 
it  cost  me  much  persuasion  and  insistence  at  mili 
tary  headquarters,  to  convince  them  that  the  boy 
was  ignorant  of  the  treachery  of  his  act.  But 
finally,  after  much  advice,  he  started  for  his  regi 
ment  with  a  return  pass.  About  a  year  later  he 
wrote  asking  my  advice  as  to  his  marrying  "  a  very 
nice  girl ",  as  he  thought  "  an  economical  wife 
could  help  him  to  save  money  ",  —  on  twelve  dol 
lars  a  month,  forsooth ! 


44    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE    GREAT    MANHATTAN    FAIR    OF    THE 
U.  S.  SANITARY  COMMISSION,  1864 

"  Yet  Thou  wilt  hear  the  prayer  we  speak, 
The  song  of  praise  we  sing — 
My  children,  who  Thine  Altar  seek 
Their  grateful  gifts  to  bring. 


"  Lo !  for  our  wounded  brothers'  need, 
We  bear  the  wine  and  oil ; 
For  us  they  faint,  for  us  they  bleed, 
For  them  our  gracious  toil !  " 

OLIVER  WENDELL  HOLMES. 

WHILE  the  devastations  of  Civil  War  were 
sending  thousands  of  our  brave  men  to 
die,  and  to  sleep  in  distant  graves,  inade 
quate   relief   for   sick   and   wounded   soldiers   also 
caused  much  unnecessary  suffering  and  loss  of  life. 
Lacking  more  prompt  means  of  assistance,  supplies, 
surgeons,  nurses,  et  cetera,  could  reach  them  only 
through  the  slow  process  of  military  regulations. 

With  the  hope  of  supplying  this  most  urgent 
need,  the  great  Manhattan  fair  of  the  United  States 
Sanitary  Commission  was  suggested,  and  later  or 
ganized  by  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Doctor  Bellows  of 
New  York  City.  He  became  its  president,  and, 
with  other  gentlemen  as  a  committee,  went  to 
Washington  to  consult  military  and  hospital  de 
partments  as  to  some  feasible  manner  of  supple 
menting  this  most  necessary  branch  of  the  United 
States  service. 


THE  GREAT  MANHATTAN  FAIR  45 

The  congregation  of  All  Souls'  Church,  of  which 
Dr.  Bellows  was  pastor,  at  once  voted  that  the 
$40,000  that  had  been  appropriated  for  a  church 
steeple  should  be  donated  to  the  great  Fair.  The 
steepleless  church  stands  to-day,  a  monument  to 
their  practical  benevolence. 

Their  beneficent  intention  resulted  in  the  erection 
of  an  immense  wooden  building  at  Union  Square 
and  Fourteenth  Street,  New  York  City,  for  a  great 
bazaar.  The  opening  took  place  on  April  i4th, 
1864,  the  Honorable  Joseph  Choate  delivering  an 
address.  An  original  poem  by  Oliver  Wendell 
Holmes  was  sung  by  a  union  of  many  volunteer 
church  choirs,  before  a  vast  multitude.  The  verses 
at  the  head  of  this  chapter  are  selected  from  the 
poem. 

The  building  was  practically  overflowing  with 
the  number  of  enormous  donations  that  had  no 
precedent,  nor  has  any  later  benevolence  in  our 
country  ever  equalled  this  cheerful,  spontaneous 
outpouring  of  money  and  salable  goods,  from  all 
classes  and  individuals,  merchants  and  dealers  of 
every  grade.  These  gifts  of  every  description 
were  piled  high  on  shelves  and  in  beautifully  ar 
ranged  booths,  where  charming  young  girls  and 
earnest  bright-eyed  women  competed  in  the  selling 
of  them  to  hundreds  of  eager  buyers.  Wealthy, 
generous  patrons  vied  with  one  another  in  liberal 
purchases  and  donations,  while  those  of  smaller 
means  were  also  happy  in  giving  their  mites  to 
swell  the  enormous  sums  that  astonished  even  the 


46    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

sanguine  organizers.  Many  others,  having  no 
means  to  spare,  volunteered  their  entire  time  and 
services  to  any  department  needing  them,  however 
laborious  or  unpleasant.  And  here  they  worked 
cheerfully  every  day  until  midnight  during  the 
three  weeks  of  the  fair,  unconscious  of  weariness. 
Probably  in  no  other  bazaar  were  there  ever  such 
tireless  workers,  generous  donors,  or  enthusiastic 
buyers.  The  united  beneficence,  patriotism  and 
good  will  of  these  people  poured  into  the  treasury 
of  the  Sanitary  Commission  the  enormous  amount 
of  two  million  dollars.  This  great  sum  for  those 
days  enabled  the  Commission  to  perfect  an  organ 
ization  unparalleled  in  scope  and  efficiency,  with  a 
corps  of  faithful,  honorable  workers. 

Like  the  Red  Cross,  which  came  to  us  later  from 
Switzerland,  this  commission  was  immune  from 
attack  after  battles.  Often  following  the  army 
closely,  its  representatives  were  able  to  set  up 
temporary  hospitals  more  quickly  and  efficiently 
with  their  independent  supplies,  army  wagons  and 
even  transportation  for  special  duty,  than  could  be 
done  by  the  regular  army  routine.  Later  my  op 
portunity  for  knowing  their  work  for  soldiers  was 
unusual.  Being  the  only  person  in  the  hospital 
camp  in  the  field  working  independently,  without 
pay  for  any  service,  and  provided  with  a  pass  from 
United  States  Army's  Headquarters,  the  commis 
sion  claimed  that  I  was  entitled  to  my  living  and 
any  supplies  I  might  require  for  the  sick. 

The  relation  here  of  an  instance  of  personal  ex- 


THE  GREAT  MANHATTAN  FAIR  47 

perience  will  give  some  idea  of  the  capability  and 
prompt  action  of  the  commission  immediately  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  at  almost  the  last  moment 
of  its  field  work,  at  City  Point,  Virginia. 

The  armies  of  the  James  and  Potomac  were 
ordered  to  Washington  as  speedily  as  transporta 
tion  would  permit.  They  were  to  take  part  in  the 
grand  review  and  were  to  be  mustered  out  of 
service.  The  sick  were  also  carried  to  Washing 
ton  hospitals  as  soon  as  they  were  able  to  sail  on 
the  transports  now  crowding  the  docks  of  City 
Point.  The  headquarters  of  the  United  States 
Armies  in  the  field  had  some  time  previously  been 
transferred  to  Washington,  where,  still  later,  I 
often  saw  General  Grant,  always  silent  and  smok 
ing,  except  when  in  the  presence  of  ladies. 

General  Russell,  with  his  colored  troops,  was 
left  in  command  at  City  Point  to  finish  up  the 
Government  work  there.  Surgeon  Thomas  Pooley, 
later  a  distinguished  oculist,  of  New  York  City, 
had  been  left  in  charge  of  the  almost  abandoned 
field  hospital.  Barracks  and  tents  were  dis 
mantled,  canvas  roofs  were  removed  and  "  turned 
in "  to  the  Government,  leaving  only  stockade 
walls,  much  useless  camp  furniture,  and  debris  of 
all  sorts  that  it  would  have  been  unprofitable  to 
ship  north. 

Into  these  roofless  wards  swarmed  crowds  of 
destitute  "  contrabands "  from  the  surrounding 
country  and  from  Petersburg,  eight  miles  distant, 
and  settled  down  like  flocks  of  crows.  They  found 


48    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

many  things  that  were  treasures  to  them  among 
the  abandoned  supplies  and  rations  upon  which 
they  subsisted  until  the  government  could  devise 
some  plan  to  save  these  helpless  wandering 
creatures  from  starvation. 


SURGEON  THOMAS  POOLEY 

The  word  contraband  as  applied  to  negroes  was 
first  used  May  23d,  1861,  by  General  Ben  Butler, 
soon  after  taking  command  of  Fortress  Monroe, 
when  three  slaves  escaped  from  work  on  a  Confed 
erate  fort,  near  by,  and  came  across  the  river  in  a 
boat  asking  protection.  The  owner  sent  for  them 


THE  GREAT  MANHATTAN  FAIR  49 

by  flag  of  truce.  General  Butler  decided  that  tho 
not  strictly  legal  that  as  a  war  measure  he  was 
justified  as  they  were  property  to  their  owners  and 
that  with  all  other  property  used  against  the  Union 
they  were  "  contraband  of  war  ",  and  refused  to 
give  them  up.  The  number  of  runaway  slaves  to 
the  fort  "  increased  to  $60,000  worth  of  negroes  ", 
who  were  put  to  work  for  the  Union  army,  — 
many  of  whom  enlisted  and  served  faithfully  till 
the  end  of  the  war. 

At  that  time  I  was  the  only  white  woman  in 
camp,  waiting  for  orders  to  report  to  the  New 
York  State  agency  in  Washington.  A  kind 
motherly  old  colored  "  auntie  "  seemed  to  consider 
me  merely  a  child,  and  constantly  followed  me 
about,  watched  over  me,  and  became  my  general 
guardian.  General  Russell  kept  a  guard  of  four 
colored  soldiers,  with  stacked  arms,  night  and  day, 
about  my  quarters  for  my  safety. 

I  was  about  to  start  for  Washington  when  we 
were  surprised  by  a  belated  regiment,  —  of  the 
6th  corps,  I  think,  —  of  sick  men  toiling  wearily 
into  the  deserted  hospital  camp,  now  in  confusion 
as  if  a  raid  had  torn  everything  asunder.  There 
was  not  a  furnished  bed  or  bunk  for  these  poor 
sick  discouraged  men  to  lie  upon,  nor  was  there 
any  food  for  their  famished  bodies  as  they  dropped 
upon  the  bare  ground  exhausted,  almost  fainting. 

I  still  had  the  use  of  an  ambulance,  and  in  this 
emergency  hastily  ordered  the  driver  to  take  me 
to  City  Point,  one-half  mile  distant,  for  help. 


50    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Fortunately  the  Sanitary  Commission  barge, 
loaded  with  surplus  supplies,  had  not  started,  but 
was  just  about  to  cut  loose,  when  I  informed  them 
of  the  destitution  and  helplessness  of  the  sick 
stranded  soldiers. 


J.  YATES  PEEK 

Mr.  J.  Yates  Peek,  formerly  of  the  i4yth  New 
York  Infantry,  at  once  reversed  orders,  unpacked 
supplies,  and  put  his  men  to  work.  By  night  the 
barracks  were  covered  with  canvas  roofs;  com 
fortable  beds  were  made  of  fresh  hay,  and  the  men 
were  fed.  The,  f<  contrabands "  cheerfully  as- 


THE  GREAT  MANHATTAN  FAIR  51 

sisted  me  in  preparing  food  and  caring  for  the 
famished  men.  I  think  Doctor  Pooley  was  the 
only  surgeon  in  camp.  Contrabands  helped,  in 
their  rude  way,  to  nurse  the  helpless,  and  a  little 
camp  sprang  up  and  remained  until  the  men  were 
able  to  travel  and  get  transportation  to  Washing 
ton.  There  was  probably  no  better  work  done  by 
this  great  organization  than  that  by  the  belated 
company  of  agents  of  the  United  States  Commis 
sion  in  that  emergency.  Without  their  help  and 
supplies  these  men  must  have  suffered  keenly,  and 
perhaps  have  died  before  relief  could  have  been 
sent  back  from  Washington  on  an  unprecedented 
requisition,  and  the  necessary  "  red  tape  "  regu 
lations  complied  with. 

Another  personal  experience  comes  to  mind. 
Months  after  the  war,  at  their  New  York  City 
Headquarters,  when  all  liabilities  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission  had  been  met  and  field  work  dis 
banded,  there  was  still  a  considerable  balance  in 
the  treasury.  The  money  had  been  collected  for 
a  specific  purpose,  namely  —  for  the  benefit  of 
sick  soldiers.  This  need  was  now  supplied  by  the 
Government  in  various  hospitals  and  in  temporary 
homes,  but  the  surplus  money  could  not  legally  or 
honorably  be  applied  to  any  other  benevolence. 
Finally  it  was  agreed  that  soldiers'  families  were 
the  legitimate  heirs  to  this  soldiers'  fund.  There 
fore  Mrs.  Baldwin,  a  woman  of  great  tact  and 
capability,  with  myself,  was  asked  to  visit  their 
families  and  judiciously  assist  the  needy.  Through 


52    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

that  unusual  bitterly  cold  winter  of  '65  and  '66  we 
visited  and  assisted  many  of  them.  With  the  ad 
vent  of  warm  weather  the  last  dollar  was  expended, 
and  the  official  life  of  this  great  beneficent  work 
ended.  Through  it  thousands  of  lives  were  saved, 
and  many  cheered  and  made  comfortable. 

At  the  Brooklyn  Sanitary  Fair  over  $400,000 
were  raised,  and  in  Chicago  and  the  West,  that  had 
led  in  this  great  movement,  chiefly  through  the 
efforts  of  women,  the  amounts  were  astonishing. 
Through  the  great  heart  of  the  people,  from  all 
sources  over  $25,000,000  came  into  the  treasury 
of  the  Sanitary  Commission. 


NEW  ENGLAND  ROOMS 


CHAPTER  V 
NEW  ENGLAND  ROOMS 

FRANK  HOWE,  of  the  New 
I  .  England  Rooms,  on  Broadway  near  Fulton 
Street,  New  York  City,  was  the  director  of 
that  Rest  for  stranded  and  sick  soldiers,  as  well  as 
for  many  helplessly  wounded.  Here  I  found  many 
of  the  most  interesting  cases  of  my  experience. 
Colonel  Howe  felt  that  their  contribution  of 
wounded  to  the  Sanitary  Fair  would  be  a  more 
effective  object-lesson  and  incentive,  than  inani 
mate  war  emblems  and  relics  displayed  in  the 
Arms  and  Trophy  Department.  Some  of  these 
crippled  men  were  now  waiting  for  Government 
to  provide  homes  for  those  incapable  of  self- 
support. 

Colonel  Howe  thereupon  secured  free  passes  for 
a  number  of  convalescents,  and  I  consented  to  take 
charge  of  them  during  the  fair.  Consequently, 
one  bright  day,  the  New  England  ambulance  was 
crowded  with  the  following  passengers,  namely: 
one  man  without  legs,  two  men  without  arms,  one 
blind  from  a  shot  passing  through  his  head,  a  one- 
legged  boy,  the  famous  John  Burns  of  Gettys 
burg,  and  a  colored  woman  to  assist.  I  sat  on  the 
front  seat  with  the  driver.  We  drove  up  Broad 
way  to  the  fair  grounds,  quite  regardless  of  the 
curious  crowd  that  followed. 


54    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

These  brave  martyrs  were  received  with  out 
stretched  hands  and  cordial  sympathy,  and  given 
the  freedom  of  every  department  in  the  wonderful 
exhibition.  In  a  splendid  restaurant  I  volunteered 
to  act  as  waiter,  that  I  might  be  certain  that  the 
Boys  had  good  meals  and  attention,  for  which  the 
Sanitary  Commission  made  no  charge. 

A  crowd  followed  armless  Berry  who  carried  on 
his  strong  back  legless  Smith,  —  who  in  turn 
dressed  and  fed  Berry.  These  two  had  become 
great  friends  and,  like  the  Siamese  twins,  were  in 
separable.  Always  cheerful,  they  seemed  to  enjoy 
life.  Smith  was  a  good  penman  and  wrote  me  in 
teresting  letters,  of  which  I  still  have  some,  gen 
erally  signed  "  Berry  and  Smith ".  Berry  often 
carried  the  legless  man  about  the  large  building  to 
see  the  wonders  which  they  greatly  enjoyed. 

Another  armless  soldier,  a  sergeant  always  in 
uniform,  travelled  about  alone,  and  when  in  cars  or 
boats  was  rarely  asked  for  fare,  or  if  so,  he  would 
say :  "  Help  yourself  from  my  pockets  ".  Few  had 
the  heart  to  do  this,  so  he  usually  travelled  free. 

McNulty,  a  refined  young  man,  who  had  lost  an 
arm  in  an  early  engagement,  but  was  now  quite 
well,  was  also  of  our  party,  though  he  was  quite 
independent  and  asked  no  help,  having  already 
learned,  like  General  Howard,  to  use  his  left  arm 
for  writing  and  to  serve  double  duty. 

Famous  John  Burns  was  included  with  those 
mentioned  above  in  the  freedom  of  the  whole 
building,  and  at  seventy  years  of  age  called  himself 


NEW  ENGLAND  ROOMS 


55 


one  of  my  "  Boys  ".  The  following  is  copied  from 
a  card  which  he  had  printed  to  "  save  so  much 
talk  ",  and  which  he  claimed  was  a  true  history  of 


McNULTY 

his  experience  and  help  in  the  renowned  battle  of 
Gettysburg.     This  card  he  gave  me  personally. 

JOHN  L.  BURNS'  ACCOUNT  OF  HIMSELF 

"  I  was  born  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  on  the 

5th  day  of  September,  1793.     I  served  in  the  war 

of  1812.     At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  I  went 


56    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

with  Captain  McPherson  to  Camp  Wayne,  West- 
chester,  where  I  enlisted,  but  was  discharged  at  the 
end  of  a  fortnight  on  account  of  my  age.  I  re 
turned  to  Gettysburg  (my  home  at  that  time), 
then  went  to  Hagerstown  and  served  as  assistant 
in  the  wagon  camp  for  two  weeks,  after  which,  as 
a  teamster,  I  joined  the  three  months'  boys  under 
Patterson,  with  whom  I  remained  a  month.  I 
then  went  to  Frederick,  and  obtained  the  position 
of  police  officer  in  General  Banks'  division.  I  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Edward's  Ferry,  and  saw 
Colonel  Baker  carried  across  the  river.  I  remained 
with  Colonel  Banks  for  six  months,  and  then  re 
turned  home,  where  I  was  at  the  time  of  the  bat 
tle  of  Gettysburg.  On  the  first  day  of  the  fight  I 
met  General  Reynolds,  who  had  been  out  recon- 
noitering,  and  was  asked  to  show  him  the  Em- 
mettsburg  road.  After  doing  this,  I  obtained  a 
musket  from  a  soldier  who  had  been  wounded 
while  on  guard,  and  went  off  to  the  army  *  to  shoot 
some  of  the  damned  rebels '.  I  fell  in  with  a  Wis 
consin  regiment,  and  fought  sometimes  in  line,  and 
sometimes  on  my  own  hook.  About  one  P.  M., 
during  an  intermission,  while  lying  in  the  woods, 
I  saw  a  Missouri  man  fall  from  the  shot  of  a  rebel 
concealed  in  the  bushes.  I  stepped  behind  a  tree, 
and  seeing  the  rebel  about  to  reload,  I  shot  him. 
I  also  shot  a  tremendous  great  rebel  who  would 
not  get  out  of  my  way.  I  myself  received  seven 
balls  on  the  first  day  of  the  fight,  the  last  of  which 
wounded  me  severely  in  the  leg.  I  lay  on  the 


NEW  ENGLAND  ROOMS  57 

field  all  night,  and  a  rebel  surgeon  gave  me  water 
and  a  blanket.  In  the  morning  I  crawled  to  a 
house  near  by,  and  about  two  P.  M.  succeeded  in 
being  taken  to  my  own  house,  which  I  found 


JOHN  BURNS 


occupied  by  the  rebels  as  a  hospital.  Their  doctor 
dressed  my  wound.  On  Friday,  at  two  P.  M.  I 
was  closely  questioned  by  two  rebel  officers  as  to 
where  I  got  my  musket." 


58    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

I  have  also  his  photograph  which  he  gave  me, 
and  from  which,  I  believe,  the  life  size  figure  of  his 
statue  was  made.  I  saw  him  many  times  at  my 
home  in  Brooklyn,  and  elsewhere,  always  wearing 
proudly  the  shabby  old  coat  with  bullet  holes  in 
the  front  corners.  This  is  not  given  in  the  life  size 
figure  of  the  old  hero  on  his  monument  at  Gettys 
burg  Cemetery,  where  he  stands  without  a  coat 
with  bared  head,  musket  in  hand,  as  if  starting  for 
the  field  of  action. 


And  as  they  gazed,  there  crept  an  awe 
Through  the  ranks  in  whispers,  and  some  men  saw, 
In  the  antique  garments  and  long  white  hair, 
The  past  of  the  nation,  in  battle  there." 


ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT   59 


CHAPTER  VI 

ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE 
SANITARY  COMMISSION  FAIR 

THIS  department  was  beautifully  draped  with 
bunting,  Revolutionary,  Mexican  and  other 
old  war  flags,  and  also  a  few  Confederate 
flags,  captured  by  regiments,  still  in  the  field,  that 
had  yet  many  a  bloody  battle  to  fight.  A  number 
of  distinguished,  elegantly-gowned  women  toiled 
here  indefatigably,  brimming  over  with  excitement 
and  patriotism,  quite  regardless  of  the  unusual 
fatigue  of  standing  and  working  so  many  hours 
daily,  in  their  anxiety  to  allow  no  one  to  pass 
without  contributing  in  some  way  to  the  fund,  now 
reaching  thousands  of  dollars. 

Here  was  to  be  decided  the  "  sword  test ",  that 
would  indicate  the  most  popular  general,  by  the 
number  of  votes  cast  at  one  dollar  each.  The 
sword  was  to  be  presented  to  the  winner  of  the 
largest  number  of  votes.  How  these  attractive 
ladies  worked  for  their  favorites!  A  magnetic 
thrill  pervaded  this  room,  where  men  of  fashion 
and  reputation  crowded,  ostensibly  to  learn  how 
the  vote  was  going. 

Mrs.  Grant,  a  noble-looking  woman,  accepted 
graciously,  but  without  solicitation,  all  who  offered 
votes  for  General  Grant,  of  whom  she  invariably 
spoke  as  "Mr.  Grant".  Mrs.  McClellan,  with 


60    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

elegant  society  manner,  lost  no  opportunity  in 
gaining  a  vote  for  General  McClellan ;  her  vivacity, 
personal  charm,  and  courteous  flattery  won  many 
a  vote  for  her  husband.  I  think  if  her  son,  our 


MAJOR-GENERAL   AND    MRS.    GEORGE   B.    McCLELLAN 

ex-mayor,  could  have  seen  his  mother  at  the  height 
of  her  matured  beauty  he  would  have  been  justly 
proud. 

The  polls  were  to  close  at  midnight  on  the  last 
day  of  the  fair.     Excitement  ran  high  as  the  hour 


ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT   61 

approached.  At  ten  minutes  before  the  hour  the 
McClellan  vote  was  far  ahead,  and  that  party  was 
already  exulting,  confident  of  success;  but  at  five 
minutes  before  the  final  closing  of  the  polls,  the 
Union  League,  of  Philadelphia,  telegraphed, 
ordering  "  five  hundred  votes  for  Grant ",  and  the 
sword  was  his. 


UNION  LEAGUE  HOUSE 

Indignant  Democrats  pronounced  this  an  act  of 
treachery;  an  ominous  dissent  spread  over  the 
restless  crowd,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  as  if  there 
might  be  some  dangerous  demonstration.  Only 
the  general  refinement  and  restraint  of  the  surging, 
self-respecting  crowd  prevented  an  outbreak. 

Mrs.  McClellan  was  pitifully  disappointed,  as  her 
vision  of  the  White  House  grew  dim ;  and  after  the 
popular  election  of  Grant,  and  the  defeat  of  McClel- 


62    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Ian,  she  indignantly  declared  that  she  would  not 
live  in  such  an  ungrateful  country.  She  actually 
lived  abroad  for  some  years  but,  like  all  good 
Americans,  she  was  happy  to  return  to  enjoy  the 
freedom  of  her  own  native  land. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1909,  I  had  the  pleas 
ure  of  seeing  again,  in  the  Smithsonian  Museum  at 
Washington,  the  veritable  sword  of  that  memor 
able  contest,  which  had  been  presented  in  April, 
1863.  Other  swords  and  equipments  of  General 
Grant  were  preserved  in  a  large  glass  case.  A 
silver  head  of  Liberty  formed  the  handle,  set  with 
diamonds,  garnets  and  turquoises,  the  hilt  and 
shield  in  bas-relief  of  a  helmeted  knight,  the  blade 
and  scabbard  highly  wrought  in  oxidized  silver  and 
gold.  The  Chattanooga  is  the  largest  and  finest 
of  six  or  eight  swords,  all  highly  wrought  and 
jewelled,  which  were  presented  by  admiring  friends 
at  different  dates  to  General  Grant. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Fair  I  had  obtained  per 
mission  for  the  three  men,  Smith,  Berry  and 
Mudge,  to  remain  in  the  trophy  department,  where, 
each  day,  many  greenbacks  were  crowded  into 
their  pockets.  I  had  asked  Mesdames  Grant  and 
McClellan  to  head  subscription  lists  and  to  solicit 
money  for  the  three  helpless  soldiers.  Both  ladies 
cheerfully  and  effectively  urged  people  to  sub 
scribe  at  one  dollar  each,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
last  evening  they  were  happy  to  hand  over  to  me, 
to  be  divided  among  these  living  martyrs  of  our 
cruel  war,  the  sum  of  about  five  hundred  dollars. 


ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT   63 

A  citizen,  employed  by  the  New  England 
Rooms,  had  charge  of  the  finances  and  of  the  safe. 
He  came  every  night  with  the  ambulance  to  take 
me  and  the  mutilated  men  back  to  the  New  Eng 
land  Rooms  to  sleep.  On  this  last  night  I  handed 
him  the  great  roll  of  five  hundred  one-dollar  bills 
to  carry  home  and  put  into  the  safe.  Instantly, 
however,  an  impulse  came  to  me,  and  I  said :  "  Just 
let  me  look  at  that  money  to  see  if  it  is  all  right ". 
Grasping  it  firmly,  I  did  not  return  it  to  the  man, 
but  carried  it  safely  to  the  Rest,  and  kept  it  during 
the  night.  Before  morning  the  scamp  had  robbed 
the  safe  and  vanished,  and  of  course  was  never 
more  heard  of.  Was  it  telepathy  or  a  finer  psychic 
perception  that  saved  the  boys  their  money? 

A  unique  incident  occurred  at  this  Rest,  to  the 
great  amusement  of  the  Boys.  I  frequently  stayed 
here  all  night  with  the  capable  matron,  Mrs.  Rus 
sell,  in  her  apartments  on  the  top  floor  of  this 
former  store-house.  One  evening  we  were  startled 
by  unusual  hilarity  among  the  patients  on  the  floor 
below.  A  great  "  well "  was  open  through  the 
middle  of  the  building  for  the  purpose  of  raising 
merchandise  to  the  upper  floors,  and  now  it  served 
as  a  fine  ventilator.  On  stepping  forward  to  the 
railing  we  saw  to  our  astonishment  three  boys, 
each  having  lost  a  leg.  They  were  great  chums, 
always  together,  and  sometimes  the  group  was 
called  "  Three  Legs ".  Each  was  on  a  crutch, 
carrying  in  one  hand  an  artificial  government  leg, 
and  they  were  having  a  grotesque  dance  with  these 


64    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

limbs  and  crutches.  To  the  men  it  seemed  very 
funny  and  caused  roars  of  laughter,  but  I  failed  to 
find  amusement  in  the  gruesome  antics  of  these 
boys,  scarcely  of  age,  crippled  for  life. 

Colonel  Mrs.   Daily,  whom  I  met  at  the  New 


" THREE  LEGS  " 


England  Rooms,  enjoyed  the  unique  honor  of 
having  been  appointed  adjutant  on  the  staff  of 
Governor  Sprague,  of  Rhode  Island.  Colonel 
Daily  had  just  returned  from  a  tour  of  inspection 
of  Rhode  Island  regiments  stationed  near  the  front 


ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT   65 

and  had  also  visited  sick  soldiers  in  different  hos 
pitals.  She  had  prepared  and  published  a  general 
and  statistical  report  of  the  condition  of  the  men  to 
present  officially  to  Governor  Sprague. 


COLONEL   MRS.    DAILY 

After  my  success  in  collecting  funds  for  Mudge, 
Smith  and  Berry  at  the  Sanitary  Fair,  I  con 
cluded  to  take  them  to  the  great  exposition  then 
being  held  at  Philadelphia,  but  for  some  unex 
plained  reason  my  efforts  to  secure  financial  aid  for 
them  met  with  comparative  failure. 


66    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

A  handsome  ambulance  of  the  Wicacoe  fire 
engine  company  had  met  us  at  Camden  boat  land 
ing,  Philadelphia,  whence  we  were  driven  to  the 
famous  Union  Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon  and 
Hospital,  where  a  few  cots  for  special  cases  had 
been  set  up  in  the  private  offices.  Here  these 
three  men  were  warmly  welcomed  and  made  com 
fortable  during  their  visit. 

Mrs.  Lincoln  called  there  one  day,  and,  after  a 
pleasant  talk,  gave  twenty  dollars  to  each  of  the 
"  Twins  ".  They  seemed  to  appreciate  her  kindly 
words  even  more  than  her  practical  gift. 

When  troops  were  approaching  the  city  of  Phila 
delphia,  the  great  "  Liberty  Bell "  rang  out  a  wel 
come  to  coming  regiments.  Hundreds  of  kindly 
women,  laden  with  good  things,  hastened  to  this 
large  building,  which  was  a  cooper's  shop,  quickly 
set  up  rough  tables,  and  spread  their  generous  sup 
plies  ready  for  the  hungry  men.  During  the  war 
thousands  of  men  and  many  regiments  halted  here 
for  "  a  good  square  meal ",  while  passing  through 
the  city  to  the  front.  When  the  hungry  Boys  were 
rested  and  satisfied,  they  fell  into  line  and  marched 
away  to  the  music  of  the  jolly  fife  and  drum, 
cheering  and  shouting  their  thanks,  only  ex 
ceeded  in  sound  by  the  deafening  applause  of  the 
patriotic  people  waiting  to  see  them  off.  This 
"  shop  ",  by  the  generosity  of  its  owners,  and  the 
unflagging  patriotism  of  the  women,  became 
historical.  Many  full  regiments  remembered  the 


ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT   67 


good  things  freely  given  by  those  who  had  not 
always  an  abundant  living  for  themselves. 

The  following  is  a  verbatim  copy  of  a  letter 
written  by  one  of  the  "  Twins  "  from  the  Union 
Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon  and  Hospital,  gen- 


Union  Volunteer  Refreshment  Saloon  &  Hospital 


erally  known  as  the  Cooper  Rest  Hall,  referred  to 
above : 

"  Philadelphia,  June  22d,  1864. 

Miss  Adelaide  Smith: 
Dear  Madam : — 

I  have  just  received  your  kind  and  welcome  letter 
and  now  hasten  to  reply.     I  am  glad  to  hear  of  your 


68    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

safe  arrival  in  New  York,  and  regret  that  friend  Mudge 
cannot  exercise  sufficient  control  over  himself  to  pre 
vent  so  much  useless  trouble  to  his  friends  but  I  an 
ticipated  as  much.  I  hope  the  air  of  the  Astor  House 
will  be  congenial  to  him.  Berry  has  been  seeking  the 
paper  you  refer  to  but  has  not  yet  gotten  it.  He  will 
go  out  today  and  get  it,  if  he  can,  and  send  it  to  you. 

Shortly  after  Berry  went  out  with  you,  the  day  you 
left,  Mrs  Lincoln  visited  the  Saloon  and  had  a  little 
talk  with  me  (Smith)  and  a  $20.00  bill  was  slipped  into 
my  hand.  I  believe  there  is  $20.00  expected  for  Berry 
from  the  same  source. 

With  regard  to  pecuniary  matters  Philadelphia  is 
looking  up.  In  addition  to  the  above  donation  I  have 
received  $25.00,  and  Berry  about  $20.00.  Berry  is  out 
occasionally,  hence  the  difference  between  us,  but 
Berry  will  stay  in  the  Saloon  alongside  of  me  and  no 
doubt  we  will  both  share  alike. 

Berry  was  walking  along  Chestnut  Street  on  Mon 
day  when  a  man  standing  at  a  doorway  stopped  him, 
questioned  him,  did  he  know  Miss  Furness?  Yes. 
Well  Miss  Furness  has  been  everywhere  trying  to  find 
us,  wishing  very  much  to  see  us.  Miss  Furness  was 
then  in  the  house.  Berry  was  invited  in  to  see  her. 
She  commenced  the  old  story  about  the  artificial  arms 
and  legs.  We  expect  she  will  go  to  the  fair  and  ped 
dle  out  the  rest  of  her  old  jewelry  which  will,  she  ex 
pects,  enable  her  to  give  us  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
thousand  dollars  each.  In  fact  our  expectations  are 
raised  to  such  a  pitch  and  we  are  so  sanguine  of  Miss 
Furness  that  we  shall  probably  have  a  surplus  of  a  few 
thousand,  dear  Madam  for  you,  as  a  *  slight  testimonial 
of  our  esteem  and  mark  of  our  gratitude  ' ;  etc.,  etc. 
She  has  also  a  box  full  of  artificial  arms  and  legs. 

Will  you  please  tell  Price  to  forward  all  letters 
there  may  be  in  the  hospital  for  Berry  and  me.  Mr. 
Redner  has  not  yet  called. 

I  hope  Mr.  D.  will  get  my  furlough  extended,  at 
any  rate  I  shall  stay  here  some  time  longer.  We  are 
getting  along  very  comfortably.  There  is  nothing 


ARMS  AND  TROPHY  DEPARTMENT   69 

particular  in  the  way  of  news.     Berry  and  I  went  out 
sailing  a  day  or  two  ago. 

All  the  good  folks  here  beg  to  be  remembered  to 
you,  Mr.  Wade  in  particular.  Our  best  regards  to  all 
our  friends,  Mr.  D.  especially,  and  believe  us,  dear 
Madam, 

Yours  very  gratefully, 
ALBERT  A.  SMITH  and  JOHN  H.  BERRY. 

P.  S.  If  you  have  time,  in  case  you  pass  through 
Philadelphia,  to  call  and  see  us,  it  will  afford  us  much 
pleasure." 

On  our  return  to  New  York,  as  in  going  to 
Philadelphia,  every  one  wished  to  lend  a  helping 
hand,  but  Smith  clung  to  Berry,  who  carried  him 
with  ease,  while  the  crowd  cheered  the  courageous, 
independent  fellows.  On  returning  them  safely  to 
the  New  England  Rooms,  I  longed  to  rest  for  a 
few  days  at  my  home  in  Bedford  Avenue,  Brook 
lyn,  but  I  found  at  the  Rooms  a  slowly  dying 
woman  who  greatly  excited  my  sympathy.  She 
had  been  brought  from  Washington,  where  she  had 
contracted  dysentery  while  nursing  her  son,  who 
died  soon  after  she  reached  him.  She  was  on  her 
way  to  her  home  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts. 
There  was  no  proper  place  for  the  poor  soul,  and 
Colonel  Howe  was  anxious  to  have  her  reach  her 
home  before  she  died,  so  I  took  charge  of  her,  and 
we  went  by  the  Fall  River  Line.  I  sat  beside  her 
stretcher  all  night  in  the  ladies'  cabin,  watching  her 
pulse  and  constantly  giving  her  stimulants  or  nour 
ishment.  At  daybreak  we  reached  Worcester. 
The  man  sent  to  assist  me  found  an  express  wagon 
on  which  the  stretcher  was  placed,  and  we  all  drove 


70    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

to  a  plain  comfortable-looking  house.  Finding  no 
responsible  person  about  the  place  I  took  posses 
sion  of  the  parlor  on  the  second  floor,  ordering  a 
bed  from  another  room.  The  feeble  woman  was 
then  carried  up  and  placed  comfortably  at  rest  in 
her  own  home.  The  doctor  came  and,  against  my 
earnest  protest,  insisted  on  stopping  the  stimu 
lants  at  once,  saying  he  knew  her  constitution 
better  than  I.  When  her  husband  appeared  he 
showed  no  particular  interest  save  to  take  posses 
sion  of  her  pocketbook,  and  I  did  not  see  him  again. 
A  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  showed  much  interest  for 
the  woman.  They  kindly  took  me  to  their  home 
for  rest.  Later  in  the  day  I  went  back  to  see  the 
fast  failing  woman,  who  died  two  days  later,  a 
victim  to  the  conceit  of  an  ignorant  doctor.  I  en 
joyed  for  a  day  or  two  the  hospitality  of  the 
Greens,  and  I  shall  never  forget  their  home-grown 
strawberries  and  cream. 


UNIQUE  CASE  OF  WILLIAM  MUDGE      71 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  UNIQUE  CASE  OF  WILLIAM  MUDGE  OF 
LYNN,  MASSACHUSETTS. 

THIS  narrow-breasted,  delicate  boy  of  about 
twenty-one  years,  enlisted  in  the  Thirty- 
third  Massachusetts  Infantry,  and,  with  his 
regiment,  went  into  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville 
on  Sunday  morning,  May  2d,  1863.  After  once  re 
gaining  the  field  they  were  defeated  with  consider 
able  loss  in  prisoners  and  many  wounded.  Mudge 
fell  by  a  shot  passing  entirely  through  his  head, 
cutting  both  optic  nerves.  A  friend  in  the  regi 
ment  from  his  city,  tied  a  handkerchief  about  his 
head  and  left  him  to  die,  then  ran  to  join  his  regi 
ment,  fearing  capture  by  the  enemy.  As  soon  as 
a  chance  offered  he  wrote  to  Mudge's  father,  who 
was  president  of  a  Lynn  bank,  telling  him  that  his 
son  had  been  left  dying  on  the  battlefield. 

Mr.  Mudge  started  at  once  to  find  the  dead  body 
of  his  son,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Confed 
erate  lines,  where  they  began  to  search  for  the 
body,  which  could  not  be  found  on  the  battlefield. 
The  boy  was  at  last  discovered  alive,  lying 
neglected  in  the  Confederate  field  hospital. 

It  was  often  impossible  for  the  surgeons  and  de 
tailed  nurses  to  care  for  all  the  wounded,  and  so 
they  gave  their  time  to  those  having  a  chance  of 
living,  which  poor  Mudge  certainly  did  not  seem  to 


72    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

have.  The  gunshot  wound  had  caused  his  face  to 
turn  quite  black,  so  that  his  father,  in  hunting 
among  the  hopelessly  wounded,  did  not  recognize 
him ;  but  the  boy  knew  his  father's  voice  and  called 


WILLIAM  MUDGE 

out,  and  so  was  rescued  from  a  slow  death.    Mudge 
told  his  story  to  me  essentially  as  follows : 

"  I  lay  all  night  on  the  field,  drenched  by  a 
shower  (which  often  happens  after  a  battle).  In 
the  morning  Confederate  soldiers  were  detailed  to 


UNIQUE  CASE  OF  WILLIAM  MUDGE      73 

bury  the  dead,  and  were  preparing  to  carry  me  to 
the  open  trench  near  by.  When  I  spoke  to  them 
feebly  they  gave  me  water  from  a  canteen,  and  left 
me,  feeling  sure  I  would  die  before  morning. 
Imagine  what  a  night  that  must  have  been !  The 
brushwood  near  where  I  was  lying  took  fire,  and 
I  narrowly  escaped  being  burned  to  death.  When 
the  men  came  on  the  third  day  to  bury  the  dead,  I 
had  become  so  weak  I  could  only  move  my  little 
finger  to  show  life.  The  Johnnies  then  said  — 
4  This  fellow  is  good  stuff,  let's  take  him  in.'  " 

It  was  easy  for  the  father  to  get  permission  to 
take  away  this  apparently  dying  prisoner.  Going 
by  easy  stages  to  Washington,  it  was  found  on  ex 
amination  that  the  boy  was  permanently  blind  and 
had  lost  an  eye.  His  skull  was  said  to  have  been 
fractured  so  that  there  were  not  two  inches  of  solid 
cranium,  the  jaw  bones  and  teeth  were  destroyed. 

Surgeons  with  much  skill  trepanned  a  hole  in  the 
skull  with  a  silver  plate,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
skilled  dentists,  they  manufactured  jaw  bones  and 
teeth.  They  had  fitted  him  with  a  glass  eye,  and 
green  glasses  to  cover  the  defects,  so  that  some 
months  after,  when  I  met  him  at  the  New  England 
Rooms,  he  had  the  appearance  of  a  well-dressed, 
refined,  though  rather  frail  blind  man. 

During  the  fair  I  had  taken  care  of  him  and 
walked  him  about  the  great  halls  explaining  many 
things  that  he  could  not,  of  course,  see  or  under 
stand,  and  he  came  to  consider  my  opinions  final. 
He  carried  to  his  home  in  Lynn  about  three 


74    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

hundred    dollars   from    the   fair    subscription   and 
other  benevolent  sources. 

A  few  weeks  later  his  mother  wrote  me,  saying 
that  William  had  become  so  unhappy  and  irritable 
that  they  could  not  manage  him,  and  he  had  so 
often  said  that  if  Miss  Smith  were  there,  she  would 
know  what  would  make  him  more  contented. 
Mrs.  Mudge  begged  me  to  come,  if  only  for  a  short 
visit.  This  I  could  not  well  refuse;  and  I  found  a 
pleasant  refined  family  in  a  comfortable  home  of 
their  own.  Mr.  Mudge,  William's  father,  was  a 
gentleman  and  a  bank  president.  I  will  digress 
here  for  a  few  words  on  an  observation,  quite  sur 
prising  to  me.  Early  on  Sunday  morning  I  saw 
Mr.  Mudge  and  several  other  gentlemen  coming  up 
the  street,  each  carrying  a  newspaper  and  two 
large  bundles.  This  seemed  quite  strange,  but 
was  explained  at  breakfast  by  the  inevitable  down- 
east  baked  beans  in  a  crock,  and  a  loaf  of  hot  brown 
bread  which  had  been  at  the  bake  shop  all  night. 
It  was  the  custom  for  gentlemen  to  bring  them 
home  on  Sunday  morning.  Certainly  they  were 
delicious.  Being  of  New  York  blood,  I  was  not 
"  au  fait "  on  the  customs  regarding  baked  beans 
and  brown  bread. 

William's  mother  told  me  that  he  was  almost 
transformed  when  under  my  influence.  His  was  a 
restless  nervous  temperament,  and  this,  added  to 
his  blindness,  made  life  miserable.  His  fastidious 
tastes  and  conventionality  continued.  One  Sun 
day,  in  church,  he  whispered,  "  Is  my  back  hair 


UNIQUE  CASE  OF  WILLIAM  MUDGE      75 

parted  straight?  "  —  this  being  the  style  for  men 
at    that   time.     And    again,    "  Am    I    holding    my 
prayer-book  right  side  up?  "     He  needed  occupa-    , 
tion;  but  what  could  the  blind  boy  do? 

Accidentally  I  saw  in  a  newspaper  an  advertise 
ment  for  young  men  to  sell  a  book  of  the  early 
history  of  the  war,  and  I  proposed  to  Mudge  that 
he  could  sell  this  book.  But  his  aristocratic  ideas 
were  hard  to  overcome,  until  I  insinuated  that  he 
might  have  a  valet  to  carry  the  books  and  take  care 
of  him.  This  modified  his  ideas  on  my  suggestion. 

His  memory  of  locality  was  surprising.  When 
he  escorted  me  to  Boston  "  to  see  the  town  "  he 
would  say,  "  Now  over  there  is  the  bird-cage  (a 
shop)  and  there  is  the  flat-iron  sign,  so  we  must  go 
this  way  ".  Only  once  he  failed,  and  then  he  said 
we  must  go  back  to  the  bird-cage,  after  which  we 
started  again  all  right. 

I  went  with  him  to  Boston,  and  had  an  inter 
view  with  the  agent,  who  was  greatly  pleased  to 
have  a  martyr  of  the  war  to  sell  the  book.  I  im 
peratively  urged  Mudge  to  start  at  once,  which  he 
did  with  his  valet  the  next  day;  when  I  also  left 
Lynn.  He  wrote  from  memory  in  a  good  clear 
hand,  with  a  little  slat  to  guide  his  pen,  of  his 
phenomenal  success,  which  was  such  as  we  ex 
pected.  During  his  tour  about  Massachusetts  he 
called  at  the  home  of  the  poet  Longfellow,  who 
sent  me  a  much  prized  photograph  with  his  auto 
graph. 

Many  bought  of  the  poor  boy,  out  of  sympathy 


76    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

and  patriotism,  this  very  imperfect  book,  which, 
doubtless,  they  never  read.  In  the  course  of  a  year 
he  again  wrote  that  he  had  opened  a  stationery 
store  in  Lynn,  and  was  doing  a  good  business ;  and 


HENRY  WADSWORTH   LONGFELLOW 


later  he  employed  four  clerks.  Still  later  I  was 
dumbfounded  on  receiving  an  announcement  of  his 
marriage. 

Three  years  after,  when  I  visited  their  pretty 


UNIQUE  CASE  OF  WILLIAM  MUDGE      77 

cottage  on  Lynn  Beach,  near  that  of  Fanny  Daven 
port  the  actress,  William  was  not  at  home,  but  I 
saw  his  charming  wife  and  their  handsome, 
healthy  boy  of  sixteen  months. 


78    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  VIII 
THE  START  FOR  THE  FRONT 

"  Woman  should  take  to  her  soul  a  strong  purpose, 
and  then  make  circumstances  conform  to  that  purpose." 

SUSAN  B.  ANTHONY. 

"ly  It  Y  work  for  sick  soldiers  began  early  in 
V/l  1862,  in  the  "Department  of  the  East", 
which  included  Long  Island  Hospital, 
Willett's  Point,  David's  Island,  Fort  Schuyler  and 
Bedloe's  Island  (now  Liberty)  ;  all  of  these  hos 
pitals  being  in  charge  of  Surgeon  McDougall. 

This  extensive  experience  prepared  me  for  work 
at  the  front,  which,  after  many  futile  efforts,  I 
could  now  reach  through  a  society  known  as 
"  Masonic  Mission  ",  by  which  a  pass  was  secured 
from  General  Ben  Butler  for  myself  and  three  as 
sistant  nurses,  and  which  gave  me  the  anxiously 
desired  privilege  and  authority  of  going  to  the 
"  front  ",  with  these  nurses,  who  were  quite  un 
known  to  me. 

We  sailed  July  24th,  1864,  on  the  Patapsco,  a 
government  transport  that  had  carried  sick  soldiers 
to  New  York,  and  was  returning  to  City  Point  for 
orders,  and  were  the  only  passengers  on  board. 

Fatigue  and  the  odor  of  bilge  water  induced  in 
tense  "  mal  de  mer  ",  which,  added  to  insubordina 
tion  on  the  part  of  two  of  my  assistants,  caused 
the  usual  distress  and  despair. 


THE  START  FOR  THE  FRONT  79 

The  atmosphere  of  my  state  room  was  intoler 
able,  and  the  captain  kindly  ordered  a  mattress 
placed  on  deck  for  me,  where  I  was  comparatively 
comfortable  until  I  was  obliged  to  stagger  below 
on  hearing  of  unseemly  conduct  on  the  part  of  the 
two  nurses.  I  threatened,  with  good  effect,  to 
have  the  captain  put  them  ashore  at  the  first  island 
we  came  to.  Fortunately  they  did  not  know  that 
we  would  sight  no  island  on  that  short  voyage. 
The  third  assistant,  good  Mrs.  Dunbar,  in  her 
kindly,  motherly  way,  was  my  only  comfort. 

The  captain  had  tried,  in  vain,  to  arouse  me  by 
an  alarm  that  the  Alabama  was  chasing  us.  But 
sea-sickness  knows  not  even  the  law  of  self-preser 
vation,  and  I  replied,  "  I'd  as  lief  as  not  go  down 
by  the  Alabama  or  in  any  other  way." 

At  night  I  refused  to  go  below  to  my  stateroom 
and  bilge  water  odor,  quite  regardless  of  the  cap 
tain's  perplexity.  After  some  hesitancy,  however, 
he  gave  me  the  only  stateroom  on  deck.  This  was 
filled  with  the  accoutrements  of  a  Confederate 
officer  whom,  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  the  captain  had 
just  delivered  over  to  the  government  prison  at 
Fort  Lafayette,  in  the  narrows  of  New  York  Bay. 
I  awoke  at  night  in  such  perfect  peace  and  comfort 
that  for  a  time  I  imagined  the  Alabama  had  really 
run  us  down,  and  that  I  was  now  happy  in  heaven. 

My  stateroom  door  had  been  left  open  for  air, 
and,  stepping  out  on  deck,  I  found  there  was  no 
motion  or  sound,  save  a  soft  ripple  of  water  against 
the  bow.  A  full  perfect  moon  cast  a  broad  silvery 


80    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

path  across  the  quiet  waters,  so  intense  that  it 
seemed  quite  possible  that  Jesus  had  indeed 
walked  upon  the  Sea  of  Galilee.  There  was  no 
one  in  sight,  nor  was  there  a  sound  of  anything 
living  or  moving,  though  the  "  watch  "  probably 
saw  me  leaning  over  the  railing.  We  had  anchored 
at  the  mouth  of  the  James  River,  waiting  for  the 
pilot. 

On  the  morning  of  July  2Qth,  we  again  anchored, 
this  time  before  City  Point,  Virginia,  at  the  junc 
tion  of  the  James  and  Appomatox  Rivers,  head 
quarters  of  the  United  States  armies  in  the  field 
under  command  of  General  Grant. 

I  went  ashore  in  a  little  boat  with  the  captain, 
and  reported  to  the  Provost  Marshall  at  headquar 
ters,  to  show  my  pass  from  General  Butler.  The 
camp  appeared  rather  shabby.  There  were  only  a 
few  wooden  buildings,  used  by  army  officers,  a 
number  of  large  tents  and  negro  cabins,  with 
guards  and  officers  running  from  one  tent  to  an 
other.  City  Point  was  a  barren,  almost  treeless 
country  of  untilled  land.  The  United  States  flag 
floated  over  a  small  house  used  by  General  Grant 
as  headquarters. 

A  small  narrow,  cigar-shaped,  back-wheel  boat, 
the  "  Gazelle ",  returned  with  me  to  the  "  Pa- 
tapsco  ",  and  taking  on  board  the  three  nurses  we 
steamed  up  the  narrow  Appomatox  River,  a 
monotonous  sail  of  six  miles  between  low  bluffs 
and  sparse  foliage,  to  the  hospital  tents  at  Point  of 
Rocks,  which  were  pitched  on  the  very  brink  of 


THE  START  FOR  THE  FRONT  81 

this  malarious  stream.     This  was  General  Butler's 
Hospital  Department  of  the  James. 

For  the  first  time  I  realized  my  strange  position, 
and  felt,  when  the  "  Patapsco  "  was  out  of  sight,  as 
if  "  I  had  burned  my  bridges  behind  me  ".  There 
were  only  half  a  dozen  men  and  officers  aboard. 
Feeling  impelled  to  speak  to  a  refined-looking  man, 
wearing  major's  shoulder-straps,  I  found  him  very 
courteous.  I  remarked  on  my  apprehension  of  the 
strangeness  of  the  situation,  and  said  if  I  could  feel 
assured  that  the  surgeon  in  charge  of  Point  of 
Rocks  Hospital  was  a  gentleman,  I  should  have 
nothing  to  fear.  I  asked  the  Major  if  he  knew  that 
officer ;  he  replied  that  he  did,  and  thought  I  would 
find  him  a  gentleman. 

On  reaching  Point  of  Rocks  Hospital,  the  Major 
offered  to  go  ashore  and  send  an  ambulance  for  us, 
and  this  took  us  a  short  distance  to  the  hospital 
tent  wards,  and  to  a  small  frame  house  near  to  the 
Hospital  Headquarters. 

I  called  a  passing  orderly  and  reported  at  once 
with  my  Butler  pass,  to  the  officer  in  charge,  and 
found,  to  my  consternation,  while  the  color  rose  to 
the  roots  of  my  hair,  that  this  man  was  the  very 
Major  to  whom  I  had  spoken  on  the  boat.  Rising 
and  bowing  politely  he  said,  "  Miss  Smith,  I  trust 
you  will  always  find  me  a  gentleman  ". 

It  was  well  for  me  that  he  was  a  gentleman,  for  I 
found  myself  in  a  very  anomalous  position,  having 
been  sent  by  the  Masonic  Mission  to  take  the  place 
of  Clara  Barton,  who  was  already  in  charge  of  this 


82    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

work,  but  away  at  the  time.  I  soon  discovered 
that  the  Masonic  Mission  had  taken  advantage  of 
Miss  Barton's  absence  and  —  quite  without  au 
thority  —  had  sent  me  to  take  her  place.  The 
Major,  Surgeon  Porter,  however,  courteously  in 
vited  me  to  remain  until  her  return. 

Meanwhile  he  had  ordered  a  large  tent  put  up  for 
my  assistants  and,  as  a  compliment,  assigned  me  to 
a  room  at  headquarters.  But  sleeping  with  a 
strange  fat  woman  on  a  feather-bed,  with  windows 
closed  on  a  hot  July  night  was  too  much  honor; 
so  the  next  morning  I  asked  to  be  allowed  to  go 
with  the  nurses  in  their  large  new  tent,  where,  with 
a  cot  in  each  corner,  we  were  quite  comfortable. 
A  small  tent  was  attached  for  my  mess-room,  while 
the  nurses  ate  at  the  "  patients'  mess  ". 

General  Butler's  army  headquarters  of  the  De 
partment  of  the  James,  was  across  the  Appomattox, 
at  Bermuda  Hundreds,  whence  the  rumbling  of 
wagons  and  tramping  of  troops  over  pontoon 
bridges  could  be  heard  through  the  silence  and 
darkness  of  the  night.  Of  course  I  slept  little  on 
my  first  night  in  camp. 

The  next  night  I  was  greatly  distressed  by 
groans  and  cries  in  the  distance  and,  much  excited, 
I  went  directly  to  Surgeon  Porter,  as  early  as  al 
lowable  the  next  morning,  to  ask  if  I  could  do 
something  for  the  suffering  soldiers.  Seeming  sur 
prised  at  my  question  he  replied  that  he  was  not 
aware  of  such  suffering  in  camp.  He  asked  where 
the  sounds  came  from,  and  as  I  indicated  the  direc- 


THE  START  FOR  THE  FRONT  83 

tion  he  said  with  a  curious  expression :  "  Well, 
Miss  Smith,  you  may  try  if  you  wish,  but  the  cries 
come  from  the  mules  in  the  corral,  and  I  fear  you 
will  not  succeed  ".  That  joke  followed  me  wher 
ever  I  went. 

Surgeon  Porter  gave  me  charge  of  the  officers' 
ward,  of  perhaps  forty  or  more  patients.  Each 
officer  having  his  own  orderly  in  attendance,  and 
the  hospital  being  in  very  good  running  order, 
there  was  no  unpleasant  work  for  me  to  do.  So  at 
first  I  saw  only  the  romantic  side  of  "  bathing 
feverish  brows ",  and  giving  comforting  words, 
with  some  specially  prepared  diet. 

Not  caring  for  society,  or  mere  sentiment,  I  soon 
resolved  to  ask  for  a  ward  of  private  soldiers,  who 
did  not  presume  upon  equality,  though  many  of 
them  were  as  truly  gentlemen  as  were  their  officers. 

Meanwhile  the  three  nurses,  though  untrained, 
like  most  nurses  of  that  time,  did  good  work  in  the 
wards  of  the  regular  soldiers. 


84    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  IX 
SOME  PATIENTS 

POINT  OF  ROCKS  HOSPITAL  consisted  of 
about  a  dozen  tents,  each  perhaps  fifty  feet 
long,  pinned  as  usual  to  the  ground  with 
wooden  pegs.  These  contained  bunks  and  cots  on 
either  side,  for  about  forty  or  more  patients  to  each 
tent,  and  sometimes,  when  crowded,  patients  had 
only  straw  or  hay  bags  with  a  blanket  on  the  bare 
ground,  all  of  which  the  men  nurses  were  expected 
to  keep  in  perfect  order  and  cleanliness. 

To  enter  at  one  end  of  these  tents  and  see  the 
rows  of  sick  and  suffering,  despondent  men,  at  once 
aroused  an  earnest  desire  to  help  them  to  a  little 
comfort  and  cheer. 

One  day,  passing  through  a  long  ward,  I  was 
startled  by  the  sight  of  a  little  pinched  face  with 
great  dark  eyes,  that  looked  as  if  its  owner  might 
be  about  ten  or  twelve  years  old.  Stepping  quickly 
to  the  cot  I  said,  "  Why,  who  are  you,  and  where 
did  you  come  from?  " 

A  feeble  voice  replied,  "  I'm  Willie,  I  was  here 
yesterday  when  you  passed,  but  you  didn't  look  at 
me." 

"  But  where  did  you  come  from?  " 

"  I  belong  to  the  37th  New  Jersey  Infantry,  in 
camp  a  few  miles  off,  and  I  got  sick  and  they 
brought  me  here." 


SOME  PATIENTS  85 

"  How  could  you  be  enlisted?  How  old  are 
you?" 

"  I'm  fifteen.  I  lied,  and  swore  I  was  eighteen, 
and  my  parents  wouldn't  let  me  go,  so  I  ran  away, 
an'  —  an'  I  guess,  I'll  never  see  mother  any  more." 

The  soldier  nurse  said  he  was  a  typhoid  case, 
with  a  chance  of  living,  if  he  could  have  good  care, 
but  that  he  would  not  be  persuaded  to  eat.  I  re 
turned  to  him  at  once,  saying,  "  Willie,  I  hear  that 
you  don't  eat  anything  ". 

"  I  can't  eat." 

"  O,  but  you  must.  Now,  Willie,  can't  you  think 
of  something  you'd  like?  " 

"  Well,"  with  a  suppressed  sob,  "  if  I  could  get 
anything  like  mother  used  to  make,  perhaps  I 
could." 

"  Now  tell  me,  Willie,  what  it  was,  what  did  it 
look  like,  and  how  did  it  taste?  " 

The  sick  boy's  description  was  not  very  clear, 
but  I  said  cheerfully,  "  O,  I  can  make  that ",  and 
ran  off  to  my  tent  and  soon  prepared  something 
which,  with  a  silver  cup,  spoon,  and  a  tidy  serviette, 
at  least  looked  inviting  in  contrast  with  the  bat 
tered  tin  cups  and  plates  of  camp  life.  He  showed 
some  interest  as  I  said,  "  Here,  Willie,  is  just  what 
mother  used  to  make  ".  And  he  took  a  few  spoon 
fuls  quite  cheerfully  as  I  fed  him.  I  asked  if  it  did 
not  taste  something  like  mother  made.  He  thought 
it  did. 

Feeling  sure  that  only  the  greatest  care  would 
save  him,  I  went  at  once  to  Surgeon  Porter,  saying, 


86    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

"  Doctor,  I'd  like  to  have  that  boy,  Willie,  for  an 
orderly  ". 

"  What,  another?  "  he  replied,  laughing.  "  You 
have  more  orderlies  now  than  General  Grant  him 
self." 

"  This  is  true,  doctor  ",  I  said,  for  I  had  four  who 
had  been  assigned  to  me  by  the  doctor  that  they 
might  have  special  care,  "  and  not  one  of  them  can 
stand  alone  for  one  hour." 

"  Well,  you  may  have  him,  and  I  wish  you  suc 
cess." 

I  then  asked  Willie  if  he  would  like  to  be  my 
orderly,  and  he  seemed  quite  delighted.  I  directed 
the  nurse  to  dress  him  early  next  morning,  and  to 
let  him  lie  down  till  I  came  for  him.  The  poor  boy 
staggered  to  his  feet,  but  we  almost  carried  him  to 
my  tent,  where  I  removed  his  army  shoes  and  put 
a  pair  of  my  slippers  on  his  poor,  little  thin  feet.  I 
then  laid  him  on  my  cot,  bathed  his  hot  head,  neck 
and  hands,  gave  him  nourishment,  and  told  him  to 
try  to  sleep  while  I  was  away  caring  for  other  pa 
tients.  All  this  was  repeated  for  several  days,  and 
thus  he  escaped  the  sight  of  dying  and  suffering 
men.  Each  night  I  took  him  back  to  his  tent, 
where  he  slept  soundly  until  morning.  He  im 
proved  slowly. 

One  day,  while  taking  my  dinner  alone  in  my 
little  mess  tent,  I  was  surprised  to  see  him  standing 
at  "  attention  "  beside  me.  "  Miss  Smith  ",  he  said, 
while  the  fever  burned  his  cheeks  and  brightened 
his  dark  eyes,  "  I've  been  here  five  days,  and  it's 


SOME  PATIENTS  87 

time  I  did  something  for  you."  The  fever  had 
burned  out  for  the  time,  and,  turning  quickly  I 
caught  his  falling,  emaciated  form.  Realizing  his 
own  helplessness,  the  poor  child  wept  bitterly. 

Meanwhile  his  youthful  officers  had  come  to  see 
him,  which  greatly  pleased  the  poor  boy.  He  im 
proved  very  slowly,  but  evidently  would  not  quite 
recover  in  these  surroundings.  I  decided  to  make 
an  effort  to  send  him  home  as  soon  as  possible. 
With  permission  of  Surgeon  Porter,  and  with  his 
ambulance  and  an  orderly,  I  rode  a  few  miles  to  a 
camp  of  the  syth  New  Jersey  Infantry,  in  the 
woods,  which  was  composed  entirely  of  boys  and 
officers  of  not  more  than  twenty  or  twenty-four 
years  of  age. 

The  little  "  dog  "  or  A  tents  allowed  only  one  to 
crawl  in  on  either  side  of  the  tent  pole,  and  lie  on 
his  blankets  on  the  bare  ground  with  knapsacks  for 
pillows.  No  wonder  malaria  made  havoc  in  their 
ranks ! 

While  I  was  there,  an  order  came  to  send  for 
ward  a  small  detachment  of  men  for  picket  duty. 
All  clamored  to  go,  shouting  in  a  most  informal 
manner,  quite  regardless  of  discipline.  "  Say,  Cap, 
let  me  go."  "  I  say,  Maj,  you  know  me."  "  Cap, 
let  me  go,  won't  you?  "  etc.,  etc.  A  dozen  men 
were  selected,  not  one  fully  grown,  and  these  boys 
staggered  off  in  high  spirits,  each  carrying  a  knap 
sack  weighing  sixty  pounds,  a  gun  and  an  overcoat. 

The  colonel  and  captain  of  this  regiment  very 
cheerfully  made  the  necessary  application  for  a  sick 


88    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

furlough,  and  on  my  return  to  camp  Surgeon  Por 
ter  at  once  endorsed  it.  Then,  having  waited  a  few 
days  for  some  one  to  take  charge  of  Willie,  I  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him  start  in  an  ambulance 
for  the  boat  at  City  Point,  supplied  with  brandy 
and  nourishment.  His  head  lay  on  the  knee  of  an 
officer  who  was  going  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
there  was  a  happy  boyish  smile  on  his  face  as  they 
drove  away. 

In  a  few  weeks  came  the  good  news  that  he  had 
reached  home  and  mother  and  was  fast  recovering. 

In  the  same  ward  with  Willie  were  a  number  of 
Ohio  "  ninety  days  selected  men  ",  chiefly  farmers, 
nearly  every  man  six  feet  or  more  in  height.  They 
were  typhoid  cases,  who  were  really  suffering 
more  from  nostalgia  than  from  fever.  They  had 
already  served  half  their  term,  yet  nothing  could 
arouse  them  from  despair  and  homesickness,  from 
which  many  of  them  actually  died,  while  the  wiry, 
irrepressible  city  boys  generally  recovered. 

One  day,  while  I  was  trying  to  bathe  away  the 
fever  from  the  head  and  hands  of  a  young  officer, 
General  Butler  entered  the  tent  with  some  of  his 
staff,  and  thanked  me  for  my  care  of  this  favorite, 
asking  that  I  would  do  all  in  my  power  to  make  him 
comfortable. 

Another  patient,  Chaplain  Eaton,  of  a  Connecti 
cut  regiment,  was  recovering  from  typhoid,  and, 
though  not  very  ill  at  this  time,  still  claimed  a  good 
deal  of  my  attention.  I  felt,  however,  that  it  was 
a  waste  of  time  to  spend  many  minutes  talking  with 


SOME  PATIENTS  89 

him,  or  in  reading  the  Bible  to  him,  while  so  many 
others  were  really  suffering  and  needing  special 
care.  But  I  wrote  to  his  wife  and  did  what  I  could. 
He  was  very  grateful,  and  wished  to  prove  it  by 
presenting  to  me  a  handsome  black  horse,  that  his 
orderly  brought  daily  to  the  tent  for  inspection  and 
petting.  The  animal  was  so  intelligent  that  he 
seemed  really  to  recognize  me.  The  chaplain's  in 
sistence  upon  my  accepting  the  horse  was  quite 
annoying ;  and  at  last  I  said  to  him  that  "  it  would 
be  a  great  pity  to  turn  such  a  beautiful  creature  into 
an  *  elephant ',  which  he  would  certainly  become  on 
my  hands  ". 


90    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

CHAPTER  X 
EXPERIENCES  AT  POINT  OF  ROCKS 

ON  Miss  Barton's  return  I  found  myself  very 
much  "  de  trop ",  though  she  treated  me 
kindly.  I  saw  very  little  of  her  work,  but 
her  extreme  deliberation,  when  one  day  I  had  run 
to  her  quite  breathless  from  the  operating  tent  for 
bandages,  etc.,  for  the  surgeons  who  were  waiting, 
was  very  irritating.  She  asked  about  my  health, 
urged  me  to  take  a  seat,  and  very  slowly  rummaged 
about  for  the  necessary  supplies.  The  only  time  I 
saw  her  actively  engaged  was  on  a  day  when  there 
had  been  a  skirmish  at  the  front,  and  she  started 
for  the  field  with  the  ambulance  and  an  orderly,  and 
a  small  box  of  bandages,  condensed  milk,  etc. 

One  bright  moonlight  night,  I  was  startled  by 
strange  sounds  of  melodious  singing  in  the  dis 
tance,  and,  with  an  orderly,  I  went  to  ascertain  its 
meaning.  We  soon  came  upon  a  large  fire  sur 
rounded  by  a  circle  of  perhaps  forty  negroes,  men 
and  women,  crooning  and  singing.  They  were 
often  led  by  a  high  falsetto,  then  sinking  to  a  low 
monotone,  when  suddenly  another  voice  would  rise 
changing  to  a  new  refrain,  while  not  one  lost  the 
time  or  pitch  or  made  discords.  They  danced  hand 
in  hand  in  a  slow  rythmic  circle,  while  one,  more 
excited  than  the  rest,  would  spring  up  to  a  remark 
able  height  shouting,  "  Glory !  bress  de  Lawd !  " 
"I's  a-comin'  Lawd!"  etc.  All  "eyes  in  a  fine 


EXPERIENCES  AT  POINT  OF  ROCKS      91 

frenzy  rolling  ",  shone  like  great  black  beads  in  the 
firelight,  while  their  white  teeth  gleamed  brightly. 
All  were  in  solemn  seriousness  as  they  sang  simple 
couplets  like  the  following: 

"  If  I'd  a  died  when  I  was  young, 
I  wouldn't  a  had  dis  risk  to  run." 

"  Some  folks  is  bery  good  on  de  sing, 
But  dey  don't  know  nuffin  'bout  de  hebbenly  King." 

"  Some  folks  is  bery  good  on  de  talk, 
But  dey  don't  know  nuffin  'bout  de  hebbenly  walk." 

They  continued  on  in  childish  simplicity  till  their 
ecstasy  broke  into  shouts  of  "  Cum  down  Lawd !  " 
—  "  I's  a  comin'  Lawd !  Look  out  for  me !  "  — 
"  I's  a-waitin'  Lawd !  "  —  while  the  circle  whirled 
in  dizzy  speed  until  they  sometimes  fell  exhausted 
to  the  ground.  All  feared  the  "  Voodou-Cunger  " 
woman,  and  were  anxious  to  propitiate  her  with  a 
rabbit's  foot  and  various  incantations. 

Eloquence,  rhythm,  oratory  and  harmony  seem 
inborn  among  this  strange  people,  who  have  given 
to  the  whole  South  the  soft  voice  and  accent  so 
many  of  us  like  to  hear. 

Under  existing  conditions  it  was  a  relief  when 

Mrs.  E came  from  the  Masonic  Mission  in  New 

York  and  claimed  that  a  mistake  had  been  made  in 
sending  me  to  Point  of  Rocks,  and  informed  me 
that  I  would  find  work  to  my  liking  at  City  Point. 

The  following  day  Mrs.  E ,  with  an  ambu 
lance,  took  me  for  a  day's  rough  travel  over  cordu 
roy  roads  and  ditches  and  through  woods  to  Gen- 


92    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

eral  Burnside's  gth  Corps  headquarters  in  a  clump 
of  trees  before  Petersburg.  The  General  came  out 
of  an  inner  tent,  putting  on  his  coat  and  apologiz 
ing,  saying  he  had  been  sleeping. 

"  Why,  General,  how  can  you  sleep  with  the 
shells  screaming  and  exploding  so  near?  " 

"  Oh,"  he  replied,  laughingly,  "  this  is  when  I 
can  sleep  comfortably.  It's  only  when  I  hear  mus 
ketry  that  I  fear  there  is  mischief  brewing." 

A  very  courteous,  handsome,  soldierly  gentleman 
was  General  Burnside. 

We  then  drove  a  short  distance  to  General  O.  B. 
Wilcox's  headquarters,  so  near  Petersburg  that, 
with  the  General's  glasses,  I  could  distinctly  see  the 
people  in  their  houses  at  their  daily  work,  though 
the  cannons  on  both  sides  were  replying  with  a 
formality  as  if  war  was  a  matter  of  etiquette. 
There  seemed  to  be  only  women  in  the  town,  going 
about  their  home  duties,  quite  unconscious  of  shells 
falling  into  their  doomed  city.  The  General  was 
quite  elated  at  having  that  day  moved  his  lines  for 
ward  three-quarters  of  a  mile. 

Seeing  a  number  of  barrels  piled  before  his  tent, 
I  asked  why  they  were  there.  He  smiled  and  said, 
"  I  was  sitting  here  awhile  ago  when  a  bullet 
passed  over  my  shoulder,  and  the  boys  were  afraid 
a  sharpshooter  might  pick  me  off,  so  they  piled 
these  barrels  up  for  protection." 

General  Burnside  commanded  the  gth  Army 
Corps  and  General  Wilcox  the  second  division  of 
that  Corps.  Both  were  gentlemen  of  refinement 


EXPERIENCES  AT  POINT  OF  ROCKS      93 


and  great  kindness  to  the  men,  who  were  very 
proud  and  fond  of  their  commanders.  I  observed 
that  both  Generals  treated  me  with  more  courtesy 

than  they  showed  to  Mrs.  E ,  athough  she  was 

a  much  older  woman. 


GENERAL  BURNSIDE 

The  next  day  on  leaving  the  hospital  at  Point  of 
Rocks,  after  thanking  Surgeon  Porter  for  his 
friendliness  and  attention  that  had  made  my  stay 
possible  and  pleasant,  and  bidding  Miss  Barton 

good-bye,  I  went  with  Mrs.  E on  board  the 

"  Gazelle  ",  (then  well  known  in  New  York  Bay), 
—  and  returned  to  City  Point. 


94    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

We  went  directly  to  the  tent  of  a  Miss  Nye,  on 
the  Agency  Row,  whom  I  recognized  as  having 
seen  in  the  office  of  the  Masonic  Mission  in  New 
York  City.  Miss  Nye  at  once  took  me  aside  say 
ing,  "  You  had  better  take  off  that  badge,"  —  the 
badge  of  the  Masonic  Mission,  which  I  had  worn 
for  protection,  —  "  it  is  not  respected  here,  and 
you  may  stay  with  me  as  long  as  you  wish,  but  that 
woman  cannot  stay  another  night  in  my  tent ". 

About  midnight  a  terrific  storm  arose  and  threat 
ened  to  sweep  Miss  Nye's  tent  into  the  ravine  quite 
nearby.  She  called  for  help  from  the  next  tent, 
where  slept  some  Christian  Commission  agents. 
While  Miss  Nye  held  on  to  one  side  of  the  tent,  I 
threw  myself  across  my  cot  and,  with  all  my 

strength,  held  on  to  the  other  side.  Mrs.  E in 

a  short  gown  and  petticoat  of  the  olden  time,  held 
the  tent  flaps  as  the  wind  rushed  through,  nearly 
carrying  us  all  away  with  the  tents.  However,  the 
men  soon  hammered  down  the  tent  pins  securely, 
and  all  was  quiet  again.  Altogether  we  made  a 
comical  picture  and  would  have  been  a  fine  group 
for  the  present  day  kodak. 

Mrs.  E left  City  Point  the  next  day,  and  so 

passed  out  of  my  life. 

While  I  was  yet  with  Miss  Nye,  another  night  of 
alarm  ended  rather  amusingly.  We  were  sleeping 
soundly  on  opposite  sides  of  the  tent  when  Miss 
Nye  screamed  out  that  some  one  had  reached  un 
der  the  tent  and  touched  her  hand.  We  got  up 
and,  after  talking  loudly  for  a  while,  thought  the 


EXPERIENCES  AT  POINT  OF  ROCKS      95 

intruder  was  scared  off.  Then  we  fell  asleep.  He 
came  back  again,  however,  evidently  trying  to 
reach  a  pocket  book  under  Miss  Nye's  pillow. 
This  time,  not  wishing  to  disturb  the  sleepers  in 
the  near  tents,  we  concluded  to  "  arm  ourselves  for 
the  fray  ".  Miss  Nye  found  a  hatchet  which  she 
would  have  used  bravely.  I  could  find  no  defensive 
weapon  but  a  big  long-necked  bottle.  We  knew 
that  the  thief  could  hear  our  threatening  talk  as  he 
was  hiding  in  the  ravine  close  by,  so  we  lay  down 
again,  Miss  Nye  clasping  the  hatchet  on  her  breast, 
and  I  embracing  in  like  manner  my  big  bottle. 
We  soon  slept  soundly  again,  when  suddenly  a  ter 
rific  crash  caused  us  to  spring  up  in  alarm.  What 
could  it  be?  Then  I  realized  that  I  had  relaxed 
my  hold  on  the  big  bottle,  which  had  rolled  across 
the  rough  floor  and  crashed  against  the  tent  pole. 
After  indulging  in  a  good  laugh  over  our  fright,  we 
slept  soundly  once  more  until  morning. 

Still  another  incident  regarding  Miss  Nye  comes 
to  mind.  Years  after  the  war  I  succeeded  in  find 
ing  her,  then  a  graduate  of  homoeopathy  in  New 
York  City,  —  Doctor  Frances  M.  Nye.  She  had 
met  a  Confederate  soldier,  also  a  graduate  of  this 
school  of  medicine,  and  also  bearing  the  name  of 
Francis  M.  Nye.  The  identity  of  names,  perhaps, 
induced  a  lasting  friendship,  and  when  they  mar 
ried  Miss  Nye  changed  only  one  letter  in  her  name. 
They  continued  to  practise  together  for  many  years 
and  seemed  very  happy. 


96    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XI 

DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  AND  STATE  AGEN 
CIES  AT  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA 

THE  hospital  was  situated  half  a  mile  from 
General  Grant's  headquarters  at  City  Point, 
at  the  junction  of  the  James  and  Appomatox 
Rivers,  and  about  eight  miles  from  Petersburg 
front.  The  hospital  camp,  then  under  the  charge 
of  Surgeon  Edward  Dalton  and  medical  staff,  was 
laid  out  with  great  precision.  This  field  hospital 
was  divided  into  the  gth,  2d,  6th,  5th  corps,  and 
corps  d'Afric,  and  these  again  into  divisions,  ave 
nues,  and  streets  at  right  angles,  —  numbered  and 
lettered.  There  were  many  thousands  of  sick  and 
wounded  in  these  wards,  nine  thousand  or  more  at 
a  time,  I  believe. 

Convalescent  soldiers  did  police,  ward,  nurse  and 
kitchen  duty.  There  were  hundreds  of  wards  with 
stockade  sides,  covered  with  canvas  roofs  upheld 
in  the  usual  manner  by  ridge  and  tent  poles,  each 
containing  probably  fifty  or  more  bunks  or  cots. 
A  perfect  system  of  order  and  policing  by  con 
valescent  men  was  enforced,  and  not  a  particle  of 
refuse  or  any  scrap  was  allowed  to  lie  for  a  moment 
upon  the  immaculate  streets  or  avenues  of  the 
"  Sacred  Soil ",  which  was  generally  beaten  hard 
and  dry,  though  in  wet  weather  this  was  a  problem 
to  try  men's  souls  and  women's  soles  too.  At  such 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  97 

times  we  were  obliged  to  wade  through  nearly  a 
foot  of  liquid  mud,  occasionally  sticking  fast  till 
pulled  out  somehow,  perhaps  with  the  loss  of  a 
high  rubber  boot. 

The  wards  were  wonders  of  cleanliness,  consid 
ering  the  disadvantages  of  field  life,  and  even  at 
that  time  sanitation  was  of  a  high  order  and,  to  a 
great  degree,  prevented  local  diseases.  Men 
nurses,  soldiers  unfit  for  active  duty,  took  pleasure 
in  fixing  up  their  wards  with  an  attempt  at  orna 
mentation,  when  allowed.  These  men  well  de 
served  their  pay,  as  they  worked  cheerfully  for  the 
government  and  for  their  sick  comrades,  doing 
their  part  faithfully  during  the  devastations  of  war. 
They  were  as  much  needed  and  as  necessary  as 
their  heroic  comrades  in  the  field.  I  never  knew 
of  one  of  these  faithful,  hard-working  amateur 
nurses  being  guilty  of  neglect  or  unkindness, 
though  chronic  growlers  and  irritable  sick  men 
were  often  exasperating  to  the  nurse's  unfailing 
care  and  patience.  They  frequently  conveyed 
some  interdicted  luxuries  from  the  sutler,  or  extra 
rations,  to  make  life  more  endurable  and  comfort 
able  for  the  invalids.  This  was  usually  winked  at 
by  their  officers.  They  were  generally  appreci 
ated,  and  little  dissatisfaction  or  complaint  could 
have  been  expressed.  Perfect  discipline  and  sym 
pathy  seemed  to  prevail. 

During  my  year  in  this  Field  Hospital  I  did  not 
hear  of  any  enforcement  of  severe  punishment,  but 
I  remember,  one  day,  while  riding  outside  of  hos- 


98    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  99 

pital  lines,  past  a  post  or  camp  in  the  woods,  seeing 
in  the  distance  a  poor  fellow  hanging  by  his  thumbs 
to  the  branch  of  a  tree.  It  was  said  by  the  men  of 
his  regiment  that  "  the  fellow  ought  to  have  been 
hanged." 

Just  across  the  road  on  one  side  of  the  hospital 
was  a  row  of  State  Agency  tents.  Larger  tents  of 
the  Sanitary  Commission,  —  that  magnanimous 
gift  of  the  people  that  so  often,  even  in  the  far 
South,  so  nobly  supplemented  the  regular  hospital 
work  and  supplies,  sometimes  even  with  its  own 
transports  and  its  own  official  corps  of  workers,  — 
headed  this  row.  In  the  middle  of  the  Agency  row 
were  the  tents  of  the  Christian  Commission,  sup 
ported  chiefly  by  churches  from  all  over  the  North 
ern  States.  They  had  built  a  large  rough  wooden 
structure  where  regular  services  were  held  on  Sun 
days  and  on  many  evenings  during  the  week,  to  the 
great  relief  and  enjoyment  of  weary  men  seeking 
to  find  a  word  of  hope  and  comfort,  and  a  change 
from  the  monotony  of  ward  life.  Many  ministers 
and  other  speakers  came  to  look  over  the  work, 
and  many  of  them  were  very  interesting  and 
earnest. 

Along  this  extensive  row  of  tents  were  the 
Agencies,  supported  by  the  liberality  of  their  sev 
eral  States,  which  also  supplemented  the  govern 
ment  in  giving  special  care  to  their  own  individual 
men.  Capable  men  and  refined  women  workers 
toiled  uncomplainingly  to  make  hospital  life  more 
endurable  for  the  sick. 


100  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

From  Petersburg  front  sick  and  wounded  were 
daily  sent  to  the  hospital,  often  on  rough  flat  sand 
cars,  over  badly  laid  shaking  tracks,  being  brought 
as  hastily  as  possible  that  they  might  receive 
proper  care  and  help.  The  sight  of  these  cars, 
loaded  with  sufferers  as  they  lay  piled  like  logs, 
waiting  their  turn  to  be  carried  to  the  wards,  — 
powder-stained,  dust-begrimed,  in  ragged  torn  and 
blood-stained  uniforms,  with  here  and  there  a  half- 
severed  limb  dangling  from  a  mutilated  body,  — 
was  a  gruesome,  sickening  one,  never  to  be  forgot 
ten,  and  one  which  I  tried  not  to  see  when  unable 
to  render  assistance. 

Not  only  were  the  sick  and  wounded  from  near 
by  brought  there,  but  large  numbers  came  from 
more  southerly  points  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 
Many  seriously  or  permanently  injured  were  sent 
here  to  wait  until  able  to  be  forwarded  to  Wash 
ington.  Some  came  en  route  on  sick  furloughs,  or 
to  be  discharged,  or  when  fit  returned  to  their  regi 
ments  in  the  field.  Every  grade  of  suffering  or 
weariness  found  temporary  shelter  and  care  here. 
All  incurable  cases  were  hurried  forward  as  soon 
as  possible  to  make  room  for  the  multitude  still 
coming. 

One  day  while  I  was  passing  through  a  large 
ward,  a  number  of  sick  and  wounded  men  were 
brought  in.  Suddenly  one  of  them,  —  a  boy  of 
about  eighteen,  —  stood  before  me  at  "  atten 
tion  ".  Signs  of  typhoid  were  only  too  evident,  as. 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL 


101 


quite  wildly,  he  struggled  to  express  himself,  much 
like  the  following: 

"  Oh,  Miss,  won't  you  just  take  my  name?  It's 
John  C.  Guffin;  and  write  to  my  parents  and  tell 
them  about  me  ?  "  Controlling  himself  with  an 


JOHN  C.  GUFFIN 

effort  he  continued:  "  And  Oh,  do  write  to  my  em 
ployer,  Mr.  Gibson,  in  Albany,  and  now,  now  be 
quick,  won't  you?"  —  always  prepared  for  such 
emergencies,  I  quickly  took  down  these  addresses, 
—  "  for  in  a  minute  I  won't  know  anything,  just 
like  I  was  when  they  brought  me  in." 

With  a  painful  struggle  he  controlled  his  mind, 


102  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

saying :  "  Just  take  these  "  (small  articles)  "  and 
this  little  watch  and  wear  it  until  I  get  well." 
This  intense  strain  exhausted  the  last  gleam  of  in 
telligence,  and  he  fell  unconscious  on  a  cot  near  by. 
Many  weeks  he  lay,  raving  and  incoherent,  till  the 
fever  had  spent  its  malign  power.  During  these 
weeks  I  had  many  times  stopped  to  glance  at  the 
poor  fellow,  with  burning  fever  and  his  eyes  rolling 
wildly;  but  I  could  do  little  for  him.  The  soldier 
nurses,  always  kind  to  their  sick  comrades,  did  all 
that  was  necessary  or  possible. 

At  this  crisis  Dr.  O'Maugher  came  to  me  in  the 
Maine  State  Agency  saying,  "  Do  you  remember 
the  boy  Guffin?  Well  the  fever  has  spent  itself, 
and  he  is  now  lying  in  a  critical  state  of  exhaustion, 
refusing  all  nourishment.  I  know  you  are  over 
worked,  but  he  is  at  a  point  when  only  a  woman's 
care  can  pull  him  through.  Can  you  make  a  place 
for  him  on  your  list?  " 

I  went  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  emaciated  pa 
tient,  whose  mind  was  not  yet  quite  clear,  though 
he  seemed  at  once  to  have  confidence  in  me  and 
wished  me  to  stay  by  his  side.  Losing  no  time,  I 
said :  "  Why,  John,  I  hear  you  will  not  eat  any 
thing,  and  now  if  you  will  not  eat  you  will  certainly 
relapse  and  die." 

"  I  can't  eat,  I  can't  eat,"  he  continued  to  repeat. 

"  Why  not?  "  I  asked.     "  Why  can't  you  eat?  " 

"Why,"  he  said,  "  these  ain't  John  C.  Guffin's 
teeth,  and  I  can't  eat,  I  can't  eat." 

Here  was   a  problem.     The   boy   must   not  be 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  103 

forced  against  his  own  will.  "  Why,  my  boy, 
that's  nonsense,  because  you  have  had  a  bad  fever." 
He  repeated,  "  Can't  eat,  can't  eat ;  these  ain't 
my  teeth,  and  I  can't  eat  with  another  man's 
teeth." 

Experience  had  taught  us  many  devices  while  in 
our  daily  care  of  irresponsible  patients,  so  I  re 
plied  quickly,  "  O,  that  makes  no  difference,  don't 
you  know  you  can  eat  just  as  well  with  another 
man's  teeth  as  with  your  own?  "  —  a  fact  pain 
fully  true  to  many.  He  turned  and  looked  at  me 
very  doubtfully  while  I  repeated  and  urged  him  to 
try.  "  Now,  John,  I'm  going  to  make  something 
real  nice  for  you,  and  you  are  going  to  eat  it." 

Very  soon  I  brought  my  little  tray,  with  silver 
cup  and  spoon  and  a  pretty  doily,  in  which  for  re 
fined  patients  I  had  much  confidence,  and  which  at 
once  diverted  their  attention.  When  I  sat  down 
beside  him  he  said  once  more  to  me  rather  quietly, 
"  Can't  eat,  can't  eat." 

"  Now,  John,  I  made  this  just  for  you ;  it's 
awfully  good,  taste  it." 

Taking  advantage  of  an  open-mouthed  objec 
tion,  I  slipped  in  a  spoonful  which  he  was  obliged 
to  swallow,  greatly  to  his  surprise ;  and  so  I  quickly 
followed  it  with  two  or  three  more  spoonfuls,  and 
left  the  little  tray  for  him  to  look  at,  and  to  help 
him  to  reason  out  why  he  could  eat  with  another 
man's  teeth. 

Daily  I  fed  him  until  he  was  able  to  take  the 
regular  hospital  diet.  While  convalescent,  and 


104  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

when  quite  himself,  we  had  almost  a  quarrel.  I 
wished  to  return  the  little  silver  watch,  and  he  in 
sisted  upon  my  keeping  it,  this  I  refused  until  he 
declared  that  it  was  not  good  enough,  and  if  I 
would  not  keep  it  he  would  send  me  a  handsome 
.gold  one  when  he  reached  home.  At  last  I  con 
sented  to  accept  it  as  a  keepsake  from  a  boy  friend, 
saying  I  would  rather  have  it  than  a  gold  one.  To 
my  great  regret,  while  galloping  with  a  party 
through  Petersburg,  just  after  the  capture,  I  lost 
it  from  my  belt,  with  a  bunch  of  rings  made  from 
buttons,  and  little  tokens  made  by  the  boys  from 
the  bones  of  the  meat  in  their  rations. 

Meanwhile  I  had  written  to  his  family  and  to  his 
employer,  Mr.  Gibson,  who  wrote  that  if  the  boy 
could  be  taken  home  he  would  come  for  him.  Im 
mediately  I  wrote  and  explained  to  him  what  was 
necessary  to  procure  a  discharge  or  sick  furlough. 
The  former  was  soon  obtained,  as  he  was  even  then 
but  a  boy.  Mr.  Gibson  came  at  once,  and  took  the 
lad  home  in  a  most  generous  manner. 

When,  later,  I  went  to  Albany  for  an  interview 
with  Governor  Fenton,  I  was  entertained  by  his 
family;  but  John  was  not  at  home,  and  I  have 
never  seen  him  since. 

During  this  period  of  the  great  Rebellion  the 
most  terrible  battles  of  any  recorded  in  modern 
history,  were  fought.  After  one  of  them,  during 
which  the  same  ground  had  been  fought  over  re 
peatedly,  now  with  success  on  the  Southern  side, 
now  on  the  Northern,  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  105 

from  the  Confederate  Army,  asking  for  a  cessation 
of  hostilities  that  its  soldiers  might  be  allowed  to 
bury  their  dead.  The  following  poem,  written  by 
Amanda  T.  Jones,  author  of  "  A  Psychic  Autobi 
ography,"  commemorates  the  heart-breaking  inci 
dent.  It  will  be  found  among  her  collected  works 
entitled  "  Poems:  1854-1906  ". 

A  REBEL  FLAG  OF  TRUCE 

Let  us  bury  our  dead : 

Since  we  may  not  of  vantage  or  victory  prate; 
And  our  army,  so  grand  in  onslaught  of  late, 
All  crippled  has  shrunk  to  its  trenches  instead — 

For  the  carnage  was  great : 

Let  us  bury  our  dead. 

Let  us  bury  our  dead. 

Oh,  we  thought  to  surprise  you,  as  panting  and  flushed, 
From  our  works  to  assault  you  we  valiantly  rushed : 
But  you  fought  like  the  gods,  till  we  faltered  and  fled, 

And  the  earth,  how  it  hushed ! 

Let  us  bury  our  dead. 

So,  we  bury  our  dead — 

From  the  field,  from  the  range  and  the  crash  of  the  gun, 
From  the  kisses  of  love,  from  the  face  of  the  sun! 
Oh,  the  silence  they  keep  while  we  dig  their  last  bed ! 

Lay  them  in,  one  by  one : 

So  we  bury  our  dead. 

Fast  we  bury  our  dead. 

All  too  scanty  the  time  let  us  work  as  we  may, 
For  the  foe  burns  for  strife,  and  our  ranks  are  at  bay : 
On  the  graves  we  are  digging  what  legions  will  tread, 

Swift  and  eager  to  slay — 

Though  we  bury  our  dead. 


106  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

See  we  bury  our  dead ! 
Oh,  they  fought  as  the  young  and  the  dauntless  will 

fight, 

Who  fancy  their  war  is  a  war  for  the  right ! 
Right  or  wrong,  it  was  precious — this  blood  they  have 

shed: 

Surely  God  will  requite, 
And  we  bury  our  dead. 

Yes,  we  bury  our  dead. 
If  they  erred  as  they  fought  will  He  charge  them  with 

blame? 
When  their  hearts  beat  aright  and  the  truth  was  their 

aim? 

Nay,  never  in  vain  has  such  offering  bled ! — 
North  or  South,  'tis  the  same — 
Fast  we  bury  our  dead. 

Thus  we  bury  our  dead, 

O,  ye  men  of  the  North,  with  your  banner  that  waves 
Far  and  wide  o'er  our  Southland,  made  rugged  with 

graves, 
Are  ye  verily  right  that  so  well  ye  have  sped? 

Were  we  wronging  our  slaves? 

Well,  we  bury  our  dead ! 

Ah,  we  bury  our  dead ! 

And  granting  you  all  you  have  claimed  on  the  whole, 
Are  we  spoiled  of  our  birthright  and  stricken  in  soul, 
To  be  spurned  at  Heaven's  court  when  its  records  are 
read? 

Nay,  expound  not  the  scroll, 

Till  we  bury  our  dead ! 

Haste  and  bury  our  dead. 
No  time  for  revolving  of  right  and  of  wrong 
We  must  venture  our  souls  with  the  rest  of  the  throng 
And  our  God  must  be  Judge  as  He  sits  overhead, 

Of  the  weak  and  the  strong, 

While  we  bury  our  dead. 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  107 

Now  peace  to  our  dead; 

Fair  grow  the  sweet  blossoms  of  Spring  where  they  lie ; 
Hark !  the  musketry  roars  and  the  rifles  reply. 
Oh,  the  fight  will  be  close  and  the  carnage  be  dread ! 

To  the  ranks  let  us  hie : 

We  have  buried  our  dead. 


I  found  plenty  of  work  to  do,  and  attached  my 
self  to  the  Ninth  Corps  especially,  though  visiting 
all  the  wards  and  corps.  I  was  invited  by  Mrs. 
Mayhew  to  work  with  her  for  some  weeks  in  the 
Maine  State  Agency.  While  there  I  was  asked 
later,  in  the  absence  of  Miss  Gilson,  of  Lynn,  Mas 
sachusetts,  to  take  charge  of  the  Corps  d'Afric,  but 
I  soon  found  that  the  work  was  chiefly  to  look  after 
refugee  negroes,  and  to  give  them  employment  in 
laundry  work,  etc.  Doctor  Thomas  Pooley  was 
then  in  charge  of  that  corps,  and  is  now  a  dis 
tinguished  oculist  of  Manhattan.  I  still  see  him, 
a  very  young  man,  resplendent  in  a  new  uniform 
with  bright  buttons,  red  sash,  etc.,  as  officer  of  the 
day. 

Miss  Gilson  had  come  with  Mr.  Fay,  General 
Superintendent  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  in  the 
field,  and  formerly  Mayor  of  Chelsea,  Massachu 
setts,  and  she  chose  to  work  for  the  Corps  d'Afric. 
That  was  quite  as  well  conducted  as  any  other 
corps.  Miss  Gilson  was  a  dainty  young  woman, 
and,  while  in  camp,  wore  a  short  pretty  dress  of 
grey  cloth  and  a  white  kerchief  tastily  arranged 
over  her  dark  hair  and  one  about  her  neck.  She 
had  a  pure  soprano  voice,  and  frequently  sang 


108  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

army  songs  and  hymns  to  the  men,  making  them 
quite  happy,  and  with  a  sort  of  reverence,  they 
seemed  to  find  her  an  angel  of  peace.  In  her 
earnest  devotion,  Miss  Gilson  remained  too  long 
ministering  to  typhoid  patients  from  whom  she 


HELEN   LOUISE  GILSON 

contracted  the  fever,  and  at  last  was  compelled  to 
leave  her  chosen  work  and  go  to  her  home,  still 
hoping  to  recover  and  to  return  to  the  patients  of 
her  corps.  Her  strength  was  not  equal  to  the 
waste  of  that  burning  fever,  however,  and  she  died 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  109 

in  her  early  womanhood,  a  sacrifice  to  her  benevo 
lence  and  patriotism  as  truly  and  honorably  as  the 
men  who  died  on  the  field  of  battle. 

I  returned  to  the  Maine  State  Agency,  and 
found  more  special  cases  in  the  hospital  than  could 
be  cared  for  by  all  the  ladies.  The  United  States 
Sanitary  Commission  was  under  the  direction  of 
the  late  J.  Yates  Peek,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York. 
The  absence  of  sectarianism  in  their  work  gave 
them  greater  freedom  than  was  found  in  the  work 
of  the  "  Christian  Commission  ",  which  was  con 
ducted  on  "  religious "  principles.  The  latter, 
however,  did  a  very  large  work  under  the  direction 
of  the  late  Mr.  Henry  Houghton,  a  distinguished 
oculist  of  Manhattan. 

The  large  wooden  chapel  accommodated  many 
hundreds,  and  here  came  preachers  from  all  over 
the  country,  whose  churches  had  contributed  sup 
plies  and  were  anxious  to  know  how  their  contri 
butions  were  applied.  Some  ministers,  from  re 
mote  localities,  were  a  great  annoyance,  having  to 
be  entertained  by  the  Christian  Commission,  and 
wanting  to  regulate  their  donations  according  to 
the  ideas  of  their  own  little  parishes. 

In  the  Maine  State  Agency  the  "  mess  "  was  at 
that  time  composed  of  Mrs.  Mayhew  and  her  lady 
assistants,  with  two  or  three  convalescent  officers. 
This  pleasant  party  I  was  invited  to  join. 

Surgeon  William  O'Maugher,  of  the  6gth  New 
York  Infantry,  late  coroner  of  New  York  City,  a 
jolly  Irish  gentleman,  and  Lieutenant  Stanwood,  of 


110  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Maine,  with  their  wit  and  jolly  talk  were  a  great 
help  to  us,  when  we  sometimes  actually  staggered 
to  our  tents,  completely  discouraged  and  ex- 


LIEUTENANT    STANWOOD 

hausted.  It  was  impossible  to  help  all  the  sick 
"  Boys  ",  who  were  happy  if  we  could  give  them 
only  a  pleasant  word  of  cheer  in  passing.  We 
frequently  sat  on  the  rough  seats,  leaning  wearily 
on  the  plank  tables  supported  on  empty  barrels; 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  111 

but  their  Yankee  and  Irish  jokes,  after  a  good 
meal,  soon  raised  our  spirits  and  we  were  ready  to 
start  again  on  the  endless  round  among  the  sick. 

One  day  at  dinner,  when  I  was  particularly  de 
pressed,  Doctor  O'Maugher  began  with  an  extra 
brogue  —  "  Yees  all  think  a  deal  of  Miss  Smith, 
don't  yees?  " 

"  Well,  I  guess  we  do,"  said  Lieutenant  Stan- 
wood,  "  and  no  one  had  better  say  anything  against 
her." 

"  Well,  if  yees  knew  what  I  know  about  her  y'd 
change  yer  mind."  I  was  too  tired  to  raise  my 
head,  and  he  went  on :  "  Yees  know  about  that 
Guffin  boy  she  tuk  care  of?  Well,  she  saved  his 
life  to  be  sure,  but  if  ye  knew  the  rist  of  it." 

At  last  I  said,  "  What's  the  matter  with  you, 
O'Maugher?" 

"  Well,"  he  went  on,  "  do  ye  know  whin  I 
wanted  to  put  a  fly  blisther  on  the  back  of  the 
boy's  head,  she  wouldn't  allow  it,  and  for  why  do 
ye  think?  Well,  she  said  it  would  spoil  his  looks 
for  a  corpse."  This  of  course  was  followed  with 
a  shout  of  laughter  which  happily  relaxed  the 
tension  of  fatigue,  and  gave  us  courage  to  go  on. 

One  morning  when  Doctor  O'Maugher  came  to 
his  "  mess  "  he  looked  a  picture  of  misery."  Why, 
Doctor,  what's  the  matter?  " 

"  Oh,  it's  a  poor  miserable  cuss  of  a  biped  I  am 
onyway." 

"  What  makes  you  so  unhappy?  " 

"  Oh,  it's  just  a  miserable  toothache  that  I  have." 


112  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

"  Is  that  all?  Well  then,  Doctor,  you  are  only 
a  bicusped  after  all." 

"  Be  garry,  it's  right  ye  are,"  he  laughed. 

Mrs.  Mayhew,  a  lady  of  much  refinement,  pos 
sessed  a  sweet  soprano  voice,  and  a  few  of  us 
formed  a  chapel  quartette.  The  singing  was 
greatly  enjoyed  by  the  convalescents,  especially  as 
we  took  care  to  select  good  old  time  choruses  in 
which  they  joined  heartily.  Planed  planks  on  logs 
made  tolerable  seats,  and  a  rough  platform  and  a 
desk,  lighted  at  night  with  lamps  or  candles,  com 
pleted  the  arrangements  of  the  great  square  room 
of  unplaned  boards,  where,  as  Miss  Nye  remarked, 
we  sometimes  literally  "  sat  under  the  drippings  of 
the  sanctuary  ". 

Many  evenings  while  resting  from  the  fatigue  of 
the  day  we  sat  outside  the  Maine  Agency  tent  and 
sang  army  and  other  patriotic  songs.  Mrs.  May- 
hew  with  her  rare  sweet  voice  led  the  singing,  and 
the  chorus  followed  in  our  favorite  songs  of 
"Picking  the  Lint",  "Tenting  To-night",  "We 
Shall  Meet  but  We  Shall  Miss  Him",  "Star 
Spangled  Banner  ",  "  Home,  Sweet  Home  ".  The 
latter,  however,  caused  many  stealthy  tears  among 
the  listening  patients,  so  we  often  closed  with 
something  cheerful  like  "  Yankee  Doodle "  or 
"  John  Brown's  Body  ",  etc.  Owing  to  the  quiet 
of  the  great  hospital  after  dark  the  singing  could 
be  heard  all  over  camp. 

I  was  urged  to  take  charge  of  the  2nd  corps'  diet 
kitchen  in  the  absence  of  Miss  Hancock,  which 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  113 

meant  to  direct  the  soldier  cooks,  see  to  supplies, 
regulate  hours  and  kitchen  diet,  etc.,  for  four 
hundred  convalescents. 

Late  one  morning  the  head  cook  came  to  me  say 
ing,  "  It's  time  to  begin  dinner,  and  we  have 
nothing  but  one  little  shoulder  of  lamb.  The 
Commissary  has  not  sent  any  meat  or  vegetables. 
What  shall  we  do?" 

This  was  a  dilemma  certainly.  Four  hundred 
hungry  men  must  somehow  be  fed.  All  through 
the  army  at  every  camp,  I  believe,  a  temporary 
oven  was  set  up  during  the  halts,  and  excellent 
fresh  bread  was  served  daily.  The  government 
also  supplied  the  very  best  of  coffee,  but  this  was 
not  dinner.  One  must  be  equal  to  any  emergency 
in  the  army.  Telling  the  cook  to  get  out  his  large 
cauldron  and  put  into  it  the  little  allowance  of  meat 
to  boil,  I  took  an  orderly  with  a  wheelbarrow,  and 
started  on  a  forage  among  the  agencies. 

At  Maine  I  begged  some  fresh  vegetables. 
Ohio  gave  some  canned  meat,  Indiana  onions,  New 
Jersey  more  canned  goods.  I  sent  the  orderly 
with  these  to  the  cook,  directing  that  everything 
be  put  into  the  cauldrons.  We  got  another  bar 
row  load  from  the  Pennsylvania,  the  Christian  and 
the  Sanitary  Commissions.  This  miscellaneous 
collection,  when  cooked  and  well  seasoned,  made 
"  the  best  stew  we  ever  ate  ",  said  the  satisfied 
four  hundred. 

While  at  this  diet  kitchen  some  one  stole  my 
journal,  money,  and  pass,  —  the  latter  the  most 


114  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

serious  loss,  as  no  one  could  remain  in  camp  with 
out  written  authority.  Happily,  and  to  my  sur 
prise,  when  I  applied  to  Surgeon  Dalton  as  to 
what  I  must  do,  he  said,  "  As  I  know  of  your  good 
work  in  New  York,  Miss  Smith,  I  will  be  happy  to 
have  you  remain,  but  hope  you  will  get  a  pass  as 
soon  as  possible.  The  Provost  Marshall,  General 
Patrick,  has  authority  higher  than  mine."  The 
General  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and  had  he 
known  that  my  pass  was  lost  he  could  have 
ordered  me  to  "  report  to  Washington  at  once  ". 

Many  strange  things  occurred  in  our  daily  work. 
While  I  was  helping  at  the  Pennsylvania  Agency, 
a  wild-eyed,  simple-minded  woman  found  her  way 
to  our  tents.  Twice  before  she  had  somehow 
either  eluded  the  guards  or  had  worried  officers 
into  giving  her  a  temporary  pass.  She  had  come 
for  "  the  bones  of  her  son  "  who  had  died  at  White 
House  Landing  and  was  supposed  to  have  been 
buried  there  in  the  early  skirmishes  of  the  war. 
Hoping  to  satisfy  this  persistent  woman,  Mrs. 
Painter,  whose  pass  gave  her  authority,  ordered  a 
transport  to  take  her  with  a  detachment  of  men  to 
the  golgotha  of  her  hopes. 

We  took  the  short  sail  and  landed  at  White 
House  Point,  where  it  was  thought  the  boy  might 
possibly  have  been  buried,  as  the  men  had  been  in 
a  skirmish  there.  They  tried  to  locate  the  body 
by  driving  down  in  many  places  a  long  slender 
iron  bar,  but  no  trace  of  it  was  found.  The  half- 
demented  woman  continued  to  declare  that  she 


DEPOT  FIELD  HOSPITAL  115 

would  "  yet  hold  those  dear  bones  in  her  arms  ". 
She  was  finally  persuaded  to  go  home  and  come 
another  time,  which  was  the  only  way  of  relieving 
the  hospital  of  her  presence. 

According  to  army  usage  everything  movable 
might  be  taken  from  a  deserted  point.  The  White 
House  was  still  standing  in  good  order,  with  green 
lattice  shutters,  and  Mrs.  Painter  directed  the  men 
to  take  them  off  and  bring  them  to  our  tents,  and  a 
small  summer  house  was  added  to  our  army  prop 
erty. 


116  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XII 
CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA— A  DAY  IN  THE  ARMY 

From  a  letter  written  Nov.  8,  1864 
"X   T  OVEMBER    8th    (Election    Day)    dawned 


upon  a  cloudy  sky  and  misty  atmosphere  as 
peculiar  to  Virginia  as  is  also  the  renowned 
and  "  Sacred  Soil ",  after  a  few  days'  rain.  This 
however,  we  observed  after  we  had  risen  from  our 
narrow  hospital  bed,  which  stood  close  by  the  side 
of  the  tent,  that  flapped  in  the  face  of  the  sleeper 
(or  waker)  as  the  wind  rose  or  fell.  The  rain 
descended  in  torrents  during  the  night,  and  all  was 
damp  as  usual  in  our  rag  houses.  Our  sleeping 
apartment,  or  tent,  the  second  one  of  the  Maine 
Agency,  was  well  stored  with  boxes  of  goods  and 
delicacies  for  the  sick,  leaving  little  moving  space. 
Late  as  was  the  season  our  tents  were  made  com 
fortably  warm  with  army  fireplaces,  and  stoves, 
though  the  floors,  made  of  broken  boxes,  were 
sometimes  covered  with  mud.  "  Oh,  were  you 
ever  into  an  Irishman's  shanty?  "  I  can  not  here 
describe  our  excellent  agency  which  did  more  for 
the  relief  of  soldiers,  and  more  fully  realized  the 
idea  of  an  army  home,  than  any  agency  or  com 
mission  on  the  field. 

I  accepted  a  pressing  invitation  from  the  New 
Jersey  State  Agent,  Doctor  Hettie  K.  Painter,  to 
join  a  pleasure  excursion.  She,  by  the  by,  was  a 


CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA 


117 


living  example  of  the  usefulness  of  a  lady  in  the 
army,  who  can  frequently  effect  more  good  by 
personal  influence  than  would  be  allowed  through 
regular  channels. 


DR.    HETTIE   K.    PAINTER 


Our  pass  being  sufficient,  we  started  in  an  ambu 
lance  with  a  clever  driver,  who  drove  around  the 
camp  and  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  see  the  extent 
of  our  hospital,  having  a  capacity  of  over  9,000, 
and  covering  an  area  of  twenty-five  acres.  We 


118  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

then  crossed  the  Petersburg  railroad,  to  which  had 
been  added  a  branch  running  directly  into  the  mid 
dle  of  our  camp  for  the  more  direct  and  comfort 
able  conveyance  of  the  sick  and  wounded. 

We  splashed  on  in  the  mud,  through  an  opening 
in  the  fortification  which  protected  the  base.  This 
defense  extended  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  Ap- 
pomatox  River  to  the  James  River,  and  was  a  high, 
heavy  earthwork,  further  protected  by  a  deep 
ditch;  earthworks  having  been  found  to  be  supe 
rior  to  stone  fortification.  How  little  did  those  at 
home  know  of  the  immense  amount  of  labor  here 
necessary !  The  pick  and  spade  still  played  an  im 
portant  part  in  the  warfare  of  our  country. 

Virginia  was  stripped  of  her  artificial  culture  and 
bore  on  her  bosom  the  scourge  of  war  in  the  form 
of  burned  and  felled  woods,  torn  and  altered  roads, 
plantations  deserted  and  laid  waste,  deeply  fur 
rowed  fields  turned  into  stony  roughness  and 
corduroy  unevenness,  which  resisted  even  the 
indentation  of  wheels,  and  threatened  frequent 
overturns.  With  all  these  marks  of  desolation, 
waste  and  destruction,  Virginia  was  still  beautiful 
in  her  woods  and  varied  trees,  now  gorgeous  in  the 
oriental  splendor  of  fall,  —  crimson,  orange  and 
pale  yellow,  with  a  background  of  the  darkest 
green,  fading  into  tan  or  sere  and  yellow,  —  with 
blended  colorings  indescribable,  and  hills  receding 
in  the  distance.  Near  us  —  beyond  the  winding 
river  and  bayous,  the  dells  and  ravines  and  bluffs, 
which  give  to  the  quiet  and  beautiful  scenery  of 


CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA  119 

this  section  its  greatest  variety  and  charm  —  was 
the  Point  of  Rocks. 

On  we  jogged  in  our  springless  ambulance,  here 
passing  an  army  train  of  supplies,  or  a  load  of  logs 
for  building  winter  quarters.  Further  on  we  ran 
our  wheels  into  a  loaded  army  wagon,  drawn  by  six 
mules,  but  a  dexterous  turn  brought  us  upon  an 
evergreen  bank,  and  we  rode  safely  along,  follow 
ing  a  cavalry  force.  After  riding  about  four  miles, 
we  came  to  Broadway  Landing,  (why  so  called  I 
can  not  surmise),  a  depot  at  which  General  But 
ler's  supplies  were  received  and  forwarded.  Here 
we  crossed  the  pontoon  bridge,  formed  by  placing 
flat-bottomed  boats  sidewise  about  ten  feet  apart, 
and  fastening  these  by  ropes  and  beams  laid  across 
from  one  boat  to  another,  and  heavy  planks  laid 
transversely  across  the  beams.  This  makes  a  very 
simple,  portable  and  strong  bridge.  The  river  at 
this  point  is  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width, 
having  a  steep  bank  on  either  side. 

On  the  eminence  of  the  James  River  side  of  the 
Appomattox  we  came  upon  the  marine  artillery  per 
forming  their  drill.  The  rapidity  with  which  they 
dismounted,  and  took  to  pieces  and  reconstructed 
their  cannon  seemed  wonderful  to  an  ordinary 
spectator.  To  the  left  we  passed  the  spot  said  to 
be  the  veritable  and  memorable  site  of  the  his 
torical  incident  of  the  saving  of  Captain  Smith's 
life  by  Pocahontas.  Her  direct  descendants,  the 
Rolfs,  give  this  as  the  locality,  and  the  stump  of  a 
large  oak  tree  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  Point  of 


120  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Rocks  as  the  identical  one,  —  now  felled  and 
lying  down  the  bank,  —  under  whose  shade  might 
have  perished  John  Smith.  And  what  then  would 
the  world  have  done  for  a  scapegoat? 

Still  further  to  the  left  of  us  was  the  i8th  Army 
Corps  Hospital,  and  in  the  background,  on  the 
river  bank,  rose  one  of  General  Butler's  great 
signal  stations,  125  feet  in  height,  to  which  were 
communicated  from  the  smaller  and  hidden  sta 
tions,  the  results  of  their  observations,  and  whence 
they  were  transmitted  to  General  Butler's  head 
quarters.  While  at  one  of  these  smaller  stations, 
we  saw  through  glasses  a  train  of  nine  empty  cars, 
passing  on  the  rebel  road,  which  fact  was  immedi 
ately  conveyed  by  a  singular  numerical  motion  of  a 
signal  flag.  The  flagman  who  gave  this  com 
munication  was  remarkably  expert  in  his  motions. 

After  riding  some  three  miles  further  we  reached 
General  Butler's  provisional  camp,  then  in  com 
mand  of  General  Graham.  Only  a  part  of  the  sup 
plies  were  now  forwarded  to  this  point,  the  rest 
being  conveyed  by  way  of  the  James  River.  Here 
we  stopped  at  the  Hatcher  farm.  Judging  from 
the  number  of  barns  and  small  houses  scattered 
about,  this  must  have  been  quite  an  extensive 
plantation.  The  owner  and  present  occupant  had 
taken  the  Oath  of  Allegiance,  and  having  sent  his 
slaves  farther  south,  lived  here  quietly  with  his 
wife  and  three  pretty  children.  But  General  But 
ler's  vigilance  would  not  allow  him  to  leave  his 
house  or  to  speak  to  any  one  without  the  imme- 


CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA  121 

diate  attendance  of  a  guard,  who  constantly  walked 
before  his  door.  Our  cook  supplied  this  rusty 
cavalier  and  family  with  the  necessities  of  life,  as  if 
he  were  a  northern  "  mud  sill  ". 

On  the  farm  was  quite  a  large  negro  cabin,  built 
of  logs,  consisting  of  two  rooms,  one  above  the 
other.  This  was  the  telegraph  station  of  this 
section  and  was  under  the  supervision  of  the  son 
of  Doctor  Hettie  K.  Painter,  a  lad  of  less  than 
seventeen  summers,  who  conducted  the  business  as 
thoroughly  as  if  it  had  been  under  the  guidance  or 
experience  of  grey  locks.  What  strange  stories 
passed  over  the  lines  from  that  mysterious  little 
instrument,  quietly  working  away  on  a  side  table 
as  if  only  an  ornament !  These  boy  employees,  — 
for  our  young  friend  Painter  had  assistance,  — 
were  all  able  to  read  by  sounds  which,  to  unprac 
tised  ears,  seemed  all  alike. 

In  a  large  fireplace,  over  a  log  fire,  Mrs.  Painter 
made  a  camp  kettle  of  cornstarch  pudding,  and 
George  Washington,  the  contraband,  boiled  pota 
toes  and  fried  the  mutton  chops;  and  with  the  ad 
dition  of  a  few  delicacies  and  good  Java  coffee, 
which  we  had  carried  with  us,  we  had  as  good  a 
dinner  as  hungry  mortals  could  wish. 

Dinner  over,  we  gathered  some  of  the  beautiful 
autumn  leaves,  and  rode  on  our  way  until  we 
reached  the  renowned  original  "  Crow's  Nest " 
signal  station.  This  was  a  huge  tree  seventy-five 
feet  high,  surmounting  which  was  the  "  Crow's 
Nest ",  reached  by  rude  ladders  from  one  platform 


122  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

to  another.  This  "  Nest "  resembled  a  thatched 
bird's  nest  on  a  large  scale,  about  four  feet  square, 
and  it  was  almost  hidden  by  surrounding  trees.  A 
new  skeleton  station  erected  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road  left  unused  the  "  Old  Nest ".  Several 
gunboats  were  lying  in  the  river,  below  the  banks 
of  the  James,  ready  for  action. 

Entering  the  ambulance,  we  continued  our  ride 
over  hills  and  through  ravines,  at  the  risk  of  an 
upset,  until  we  safely  reached  Dutch  Gap,  General 
Butler's  famous  canal.  This  was  nearly  completed 
at  the  cost  of  much  time  and  labor,  and  only 
waited  the  blasting  of  a  rock  at  the  other  end,  to 
complete  the  work  which  would  form  an  island  of 
the  narrow  peninsula  dividing  the  River  James  into 
two  branches,  to  be  connected  by  the  canal. 

Along  both  shores  were  heavy  guns  and  strong 
fortifications,  quite  formidable,  showing  much 
labor  and  ingenuity.  Despite  the  almost  constant 
courtesy  of  interchanging  shells  passing  overhead, 
the  "  Johnny  Rebs  ",  on  one  side  of  the  river,  and 
the  Yanks  on  the  other  bank,  had  many  quiet 
talks  across  the  narrow  stream.  Talks  like  this 
were  quite  usual,  and  were  even  winked  at  by 
officers. 

"  Hello  Yank,  hev  u'uns  got  any  good  coffee?  " 

"  Well  I  guess!  It  can't  be  beat.  Say,  Johnny, 
how  are  you  off  for  tobac  ?  " 

"  O,  we've  got  heaps  of  that.  I  reckon  u'uns 
had  better  just  float  some  of  that  coffee  across." 

"  JM1  right,  Johnny,  you  get  your  tobac  ready  !  " 


CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA  123 

By  a  little  practice  in  watching  the  current,  they 
became  quite  expert  in  floating  across  many  ex 
changes  besides  the  tobacco  and  coffee.  They 
even  risked  being  shot  from  their  own  side  as 
deserters,  and  swam  across  after  dark  to  enjoy  a 
supper  of  "  hot  pone  "  on  the  "  Reb  "  side,  or  hot 
coffee  and  some  luxuries  on  the  "  Yank "  side, 
where  the  sutler  often  consumed  a  month's  pay  at 
a  time  in  selling  good  things  to  some  "  Boy  in 
Blue  ". 

Returning,  we  stopped  only  at  the  embalmer's, 
where  many  bodies  were  daily  prepared  to  be  sent 
to  friends  at  home.  The  morbid  fancy  which  is 
manifested  by  so  many  to  possess  dead  bodies, 
especially  those  which  have  long  laid  buried,  seems 
one  of  the  most  barbarous  customs  permitted  in  a 
civilized  country. 

We  reached  our  hospital  just  as  "  night  drew  on 
her  sable  mantle  and  pinned  it  with  a  star  ".  The 
camp  fires  and  chimneys  were  throwing  over  the 
scene  a  bright  and  cheering  glow.  A  good  supper 
was  prepared  by  our  contraband  Hannah,  who, 
with  a  broad  smile,  declared  in  her  own  peculiar 
vernacular :  "  I's  jes  goin'  gib  you  alls  up ;  t'o't  de 
rebs  done  got  you  dis  time  shoo  miff  —  I'se  so 
glad  ". 

We  pressed  our  collection  of  leaves,  and,  after  a 
short  visit  to  headquarters  and  the  ladies'  tent 
where  our  stores  were  kept,  we  returned  to 
"  Maine  "  and  laid  away  our  weary  bones,  nearly 
shattered  after  a  day's  shaking  over  the  corduroy 


124  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

roads.  We  were  soon  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  6th 
Army  Corps  singing  "  The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me  " 
and  the  humming  of  the  singing  mice  which  in 
fested  our  tent. 


DOROTHEA  DIX  125 


A 


CHAPTER  XIII 
DOROTHEA  DIX 

BOUT  this  time  I  met  Dorothea  Dix,  that 
masterful  woman  by  whose  persevering 
energies  insane  women  were  provided  with 
suitable  hospitals,  instead  of  being  confined  with 
criminals,  as  was  usual  in  the  old  days.  She  de 
voted  her  time,  thought  and  influence  to  com 
pelling  the  opening  of  decent  asylums  for  these 
often  refined,  unfortunate  women  patients.  Her 
good  work,  begun  in  this  country,  reached  England 
and  other  countries,  and  was  the  beginning  of  that 
civilizing  influence  that  no  longer  considered  these 
unfortunates  as  subjects  of  divine  punishment. 

Miss  Dix,  a  dignified  lady,  was  then  organizing 
a  trained  nurse  corps.  There  were  no  trained 
nurses,  or  "  Red  Cross  "  at  that  time,  but  later  we 
followed  the  Swiss  movement.  Miss  Dix  asked 
me  to  join  her  corps,  but  I  declined,  preferring  to 
do  independent  work.  I  was  glad,  however,  to 
turn  over  to  her  nurse  corps,  my  three  assistant 
nurses,  knowing  that  with  her  they  would  receive 
pay  for  their  services,  which  the  Masonic  Mission 
had  falsely  promised  to  us.  Several  young  girls 
had  been  sent,  with  directions  not  to  take  money 
or  clothing,  as  everything  would  be  furnished.  I 
had  insisted  on  taking  both.  Some  girls  were 


126  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

stranded  at  Fortress  Monroe,  two  or  three  of 
whom  I  succeeded  in  sending  home  safely.  Three 
others,  stranded  and  penniless,  fell  under  the  pro 
tection  (?)  of  young  officers.  I  then  resigned  my 
secretaryship  of  the  Masonic  Mission,  with  a 
threat  to  expose  and  have  them  arrested  for  false 
pretenses,  but  they  disappeared  in  a  night,  and 
were  never  more  heard  of. 

On  the  return  of  Miss  Hancock  to  the  second 
corps'  kitchen,  some  red  tape  became  tangled  up, 
and,  as  I  was  invited  to  assist  in  the  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania  Agency  with  Doctor  Hettie  K. 
Painter,  I  gladly  accepted,  and  worked  for  the  men 
of  those  states,  though,  each  of  the  Agencies  desir 
ing  my  help,  we  all  worked  in  the  same  spirit  for 
all  the  "  Boys  ". 

A  most  interesting  Pennsylvania  case  was  that 
of  a  young  captain  who  had  received  a  thigh 
fracture  while  at  the  front  at  Petersburg.  The 
leg  had  to  be  amputated  so  high  that  the  artery 
could  not  be  taken  up,  and  it  was  impossible  to 
close  it  in  the  usual  manner.  Consequently  men 
were  detailed  to  hold  or  press  their  thumbs  cease 
lessly  upon  the  open  artery,  each  man  serving  four 
hours  at  a  time,  although  another  was  always 
ready  to  take  his  place  in  case  the  strain  of  holding 
so  long  in  a  cramped  position  should  cause  him  to 
relax  or  faint.  This  was  continued  for  weeks  till 
the  artery  actually  healed.  I  believe  only  one 
other  such  case  occurred  during  the  Civil  war. 
While  hastily  passing  through  his  ward  one  day, 


DOROTHEA  DIX  127 

Lieutenant  Stanwood  called  my  attention  to  this 
officer. 

Contrary  to  my  intention  of  caring  only  for 
young  boys,  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  do  what  I  could 
for  this  sufferer,  whom  I  found  in  a  very  critical 
state,  needing  the  utmost  care  to  bring  him 
through.  Being  a  blonde,  he  was  transparently 
white  from  loss  of  blood,  and  so  weak  that  he 
scarcely  tried  to  live.  He  had  no  interest  in  any 
thing  and  no  appetite.  There  was  no  time  to  be 
lost  here,  so  I  said  —  "  Captain,  you  do  not  eat,  I 
hear,  and  I  want  to  make  you  something  that  you 
would  like  ". 

"  I  have  no  appetite  ",  he  replied  feebly. 

"  Can  you  think  of  something  you  could  relish?  " 

After  a  pause  he  said,  "  I  think  it's  hardly  worth 
your  time.  I  shall  not  recover,  but  perhaps  I  could 
eat  some  barley  broth  if  it  is  possible  to  get  it ". 

Always  strong  on  the  optimistic  side,  I 
answered,  "  I  think  we  can  find  some,  Captain  ". 

But  where?  Perhaps  not  nearer  than  Washing 
ton  and  forty  or  more  hours  away.  Here  was  pos 
sibly  a  life  to  save.  Beginning  at  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  at  the  head  of  the  agency  row,  I  went 
to  each  State  agency  in  a  faint  hope  of  at  least 
securing  some  substitute,  but  nothing  could  I  find. 
Barley  was  such  a  simple  thing;  and  now  might 
save  a  life !  I  racked  my  brain  to  find  some  palat-  I 
able  substitute.  As  a  last  hope  I  went  to  the 
Christian  Commission  with  my  anxious  inquiry, 
"  Can't  you  remember  if  on  your  list  of  supplies 


128  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

some  thoughtful  man  or  woman  has  sent  this  now 
invaluable  donation?  " 

Mr.  Houghten  said,  "  I  seem  to  remember  that 
about  six  months  ago  there  was  sent  a  little  pack 
age  marked  barley,  but  how  can  we  find  it  in  this 
great  store  of  supplies?  " 

"  Oh  ",  I  exclaimed,  "  put  on  all  your  men  to 
hunt  for  it;  it  may  save  a  life  worth  saving." 

To  my  delight,  after  a  long  search,  a  package  of 
about  four  by  three  inches  was  discovered.  Los 
ing  no  time,  I  ran  to  my  tent  and  started  a  few 
spoonfuls  boiling.  The  surgeon  had  said  not  even 
salt  could  be  allowed  the  patient,  lest  it  should 
increase  circulation  and  thus  break  open  the  artery 
scarcely  healed. 

At  last  with  my  special  attractive  little  array  of 
silver  cup,  dainty  doiley,  etc.,  I  went  to  the  poor 
captain.  His  refined  face  at  once  showed  his  ap 
preciation  of  the  neat  service. 

"  Here's  your  barley,  Captain ",  I  said  cheer- 
ingly ;  "  let  me  feed  you  a  few  spoonfuls  now,  and 
I'll  come  back  and  give  you  a  little  more  bye  and 
bye.  And,  Captain,  I  shall  leave  it  all  here  on  this 
little  table ;  don't  let  any  one  carry  it  off." 

The  poor,  feeble  cripple,  who  had  not  been  al 
lowed  to  change  his  position  for  many  days,  said 
—  "  They'd  better  not  touch  it !  "  and  he  fixed  his 
great  blue  eyes  on  the  tray  with  an  air  of  defiance, 
pathetic  to  see.  So  his  mind  had  something  to 
guard,  and  this  somewhat  diverted  his  attention 
from  the  dying  and  suffering  men  about  him. 


DOROTHEA  DIX  129 

Next  day  the  surgeon  allowed  a  little  salt,  then  a 
little  butter,  and  at  last  a  little  meat.  By  this  time 
his  digestion  would  allow  stronger  food,  and  this 
was  fortunate,  for,  though  I  had  guarded  every 
grain  of  the  precious  little  package,  it  was  almost 
exhausted. 

I  have  often  pictured  to  myself  a  kindly,  country 
old  lady  in  white  cap  and  kerchief,  whose 
prescience  in  sending  this  precious  barley  probably 
saved  a  life,  and  I  wished  that  she  could  know  it. 

The  captain  lived,  and  went  to  Washington  quite 
recovered,  where  he  received  a  government  leg 
(gratis)  which  fitted  so  well  that  he  could  jump  off 
a  moving  car.  He  then  went  home  quite  well, 
having  sacrificed  a  leg  to  his  country.  His  tem 
perate  clean  manner  of  living  served  him  in  an 
emergency  and  carried  him  over  the  crisis. 

The  mistaken  idea  of  so  many  men,  especially 
military  men  of  that  time,  that  liquor  gives 
strength  and  courage,  cost  many  an  otherwise  pure 
character  his  life  in  such  an  exigency. 

By  contrast  with  the  above  I  will  cite  the  case 
of  Colonel  Murphy,  Sixty-ninth  New  York  In 
fantry,  second  corps,  a  brave  officer,  worshipped 
by  his  men.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  physique  and 
robust  appearance  when  I  saw  him,  despite  his 
fatal  wound,  a  fracture  of  the  thigh,  similar  to  that 
of  the  Pennsylvania  captain.  To  perform  the 
amputation  and  carry  him  over  successfully  it  was 
necessary  to  stimulate  him  and  this  was  impossible, 
his  body  being  already  over-stimulated  by  the 


130  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

drinking  habit  to  the  last  degree.  I  never  before 
begrudged  anything  to  a  wounded  man,  but  I  knew 
that  my  choice  brandy  could  not  help  him.  He 
died  without  even  a  chance  of  being  saved, 
mourned  and  regretted  by  his  whole  corps. 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RIDE  131 


CHAPTER  XIV 

AN  UNEXPECTED  RIDE 

—7 

ON  a  beautiful  clear  night,  while  still  in  the 
Corps  d'Afric,  a  party  of  ladies  and  officers 
walked  a  short  distance  to  a  cabin  where  a 
negro  preacher  drew  a  large  crowd.  This  man, 
though  uneducated,  was  a  wonder  of  natural  ora 
tory  and  eloquence.  In  addressing  his  admiring 
audience  his  vocabulary  was  remarkable,  as  he  used 
some  extraordinary  sentences  such  as  —  "  All  the 
englomerated  hosts  of  heaven  ". 

While  at  this  meeting  an  orderly  came  for  me 
saying  that  a  couple  of  officers  from  the  front  de 
sired  to  see  me  at  my  tent.  I  found  there  two 
uniformed,  mounted  officers  awaiting  me,  one  of 
whom  proved  to  be  my  old  friend  Captain  Frank 
Dexter  of  the  Engineer  Corps. 

The  night  was  perfect  in  a  mild  atmosphere  and 
a  full  orbed  moon,  and  I  was  reminded  of  James* 
old  time  "  Solitary  Horseman  ",  though  here  were 
two  rarely  handsome  men  of  fine  physique;  and  as 
they  stood,  holding  their  fiery  steeds,  they  formed 
a  romantic  picture. 

After  a  pleasant  talk  of  home  and  friends  they 


132  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

remounted,  and  with  raised  sombreros,  their 
spurred  horses  dashed  away  to  the  clinking  of 
sword  and  hoofs,  while  the  bright  moon  rays 
glinted  uniforms  and  accoutrements,  till  they 
passed  under  the  shadow  of  the  distant  woods. 


CAPTAIN  B.   F.   DEXTER 

Captain  Dexter  had  raised  Company  L  of  the 
Fiftieth  Volunteer  Engineer  Corps  early  in  the 
war,  and  still  commanded  that  company  at  Peters 
burg  front,  and  during  many  battles.  After  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  became  a  successful  physician, 
and  in  addition  to  his  practice  in  New  York  City 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RIDE  133 

he  held  for  many  years  the  position  of  Police 
Surgeon. 

As  some  patients  needed  fresh  milk,  I  started  out 
boldly  one  afternoon,  with  an  orderly  carrying  an 
empty  pail  and  a  basket  of  extracts  and  small  sup 
plies.  We  rode  through  the  woods  beyond  our 
lines  to  a  secesh  house  quite  near.  On  the  piazza 
were  a  pretty  young  girl  and  a  young  Confederate 
officer  in  full  grey  uniform.  With  them  were  two 
or  three  ladies.  At  first  they  were  suspicious  lest 
it  was  a  ruse  on  our  part  to  capture  the  young 
"  reb ",  but  a  pleasant  talk  followed,  and  they 
were  glad  to  exchange  some  quarts  of  milk  for  the 
small  luxuries  that  they  had  been  so  long  unable 
to  secure,  and  to  arrange  an  exchange  of  milk  for 
such  articles  in  the  future. 

We  gave  the  sick  rebel  prisoners  the  same  atten 
tion  as  our  own  boys.  One  asked  why  we  were  so 
kind  to  them,  and  I  replied  —  "  Why,  don't  you 
know  we're  feeding  you  up  to  make  you  well  and 
then  send  you  back  so  we  can  fight  you  over 
again  ".  This  greatly  amused  them. 

A  rumor  spread  through  the  camp  that  the  rebel 
gunboats  were  coming  down  the  James  to  capture 
the  hospital.  Much  excitement  followed  as  to 
what  we  women  would  do;  should  we  try  to  es 
cape  or  should  we  remain  with  the  sick?  We 
promptly  decided  to  remain  with  our  boys;  but 
happily  the  gunboats  di.d  not  come. 

My  only  recreation  was  an  occasional  horseback 
ride,  accompanied  by  a  mounted  orderly.  As 


134  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

there  was  only  one  lady's  saddle  in  camp,  it  was 
difficult  to  secure  it.  Two  or  three  high  cavalry 
saddles  were  altered  so  that  women  could  ride,  un 
comfortably,  on  them.  I  once  rode  a  horse  from 
General  Russell's  headquarters  at  the  Point,  and 
found  the  animal  quite  unmanageable.  He  at  once 
started  for  a  run  and  it  was  impossible  to  check 
or  hold  him.  I  barely  managed  to  hold  on,  wind 
ing  the  reins  about  my  hands,  and  bracing  myself 
in  the  too  small  saddle.  We  passed  a  hotel  on  the 
road  where  many  officers  were  sitting,  then  Gen 
eral  Grant's  tent,  and  then  dashed  down  the  road 
over  a  pile  of  logs,  nearly  upsetting  some  soldiers 
at  work  there.  With  a  sudden  stop  that  nearly 
sent  me  over  the  horse's  head  the  animal  stood 
quietly  in  front  of  General  Russell's  open  office 
window,  where  the  General  and  his  staff  were  con 
sulting.  They  sprang  up  at  the  clatter  and,  gasp 
ing  for  breath,  I  said,  "  General,  I  didn't  come  to 
see  you  because  I  wanted  to,  but  because  I  couldn't 
help  it ".  And  there  was  a  general  laugh.  The 
check  rein  had  been  forgotten. 

Another  horse  took  me  back  very  quietly,  but 
for  many  days  the  strained  muscles  stood  out  like 
those  of  an  athlete,  and  there  was  pain  enough 
through  my  entire  body  to  make  me  sympathize 
with  a  chronic  "  rheumatic  ". 

We  sometimes  rode  to  U.  S.  Headquarters  to 
see  the  drill  and  inspection  of  General  Russell's 
colored  brigade.  General  Grant  often  stood  be 
side  his  magnificent  black  horse  at  these  inspec- 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RIDE  135 

tions,  and  was  very  proud  of  the  perfect  drill  of 
the  negro  infantry,  whom  he  complimented,  to 
their  great  happiness.  These  were  the  first  col 
ored  troops  I  had  seen. 

According  to  General  Butler's  autobiography 
"  The  first  regiment  of  colored  soldiers  was 
mustered  in  at  New  Orleans  on  August  22d,  1862. 
Better  soldiers  never  shouldered  a  musket.  They 
learned  to  handle  arms  and  to  march  more  readily 
than  white  men." 

How  little  thought  and  justice  has  been  given  to 
the  fact  that,  when  enlistments  began,  and  as  the 
demand  for  Confederate  troops  became  more  im 
perative,  even  old  men  and  boys  were  drafted  into 
the  Southern  army,  —  for  light  duty  perhaps.  In 
some  cases  there  was  not  a  white  man  within  many 
miles,  and  to  the  care  and  honor  of  these  negroes, 
plantations  of  hundreds  of  acres  were  left  that 
they  might  continue  to  raise  food  and  supplies  for 
their  army.  Despite  the  fact  that  thousands  of 
these  negroes  had  practically  no  restraint  to  fear, 
they  cheerfully  labored  against  a  cause  that  even 
at  that  early  day  they  felt  was  for  their  emanci 
pation,  and  yet  I  never  heard  of  an  uprising  that 
could  not  have  been  checked  by  helpless  women. 
There  was  not  a  case  of  robbery,  destruction  of 
property  or  rapine  among  the  faithful  workers  who 
became  the  protectors  of  Southern  women  and 
children. 

In  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  General  Charles  Halpin, 
(Private  Miles  O'Reilly)  occur  the  following 


136  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

verses.  "  Sambo's  Right  to  Get  Kilt  "  was  writ 
ten  to  accustom  the  Northern  soldiers  to  the  pres 
ence  of  the  negro.  They  had  so  strong  a  preju 
dice  against  the  negro  that  they  did  not  like  him 


GENERAL  CHARLES  HALPIN 

even  to  be  killed  in  the  company  of  white  soldiers. 
Its  effect  was  astonishing  and  its  argument  was 
unanswerable,  and  negro  soldiers  were  ever  after 
held  in  the  respect  due  to  their  orderly  conduct. 
General  Butler  considered  them  a  necessity  of 
Northern  success,  mainly  due  to  the  wonderfully 


AN  UNEXPECTED  RIDE  137 

skilled  pen  of  General  Halpin,  who  died  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-seven,  at  the  height  of  literary 
honor. 


SAMBO'S  RIGHT  TO  BE  KILT 

Some  tell  us  'tis  a  burnin'  shame 

To  make  the  naygars  fight; 
An'  that  the  thrade  of  bein'  kilt 

Belongs  but  to  the  white. 
But  as  for  me,  upon  me  sowl ! 

So  liberal  are  we  here 
I'll  let  Sambo  be  murthered  instead  of  myself, 

On  every  day  in  the  year. 
On  every  day  in  the  year. 

And  in  every  hour  in  the  day, 
The  right  to  be  kilt  I'll  divide  wid  him, 

An'  divil  a  word  I'll  say. 

In  battle's  wild  commotion, 

I  shouldn't  at  all  object 
If  Sambo's  body  should  stop  a  ball 

That  was  comin'  for  me  direct; 
And  the  prod  of  a  Southern  bagnet, 

So  ginerous  are  we  here, 
I'll  resign  and  let  Sambo  take  it 

On  every  day  in  the  year. 
On  every  day  in  the  year,  boys, 

And  wid  none  of  your  nasty  pride, 
All  my  right  in  a  Southern  bagnet  prod 

Wid  Sambo  I'll  divide. 


The  men  who  object  to  Sambo 

Should  take  his  place  and  fight ; 

And  it's  better  to  have  a  nayger's  hue 
Than  a  liver  that's  wake  and  white. 

Though  Sambo's  black  as  the  ace  of  spades, 
His  finger  a  thrigger  can  pull, 


138  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

And  his  eye  runs  sthraight  on  the  barrel-sights 

From  under  its  thatch  of  wool. 
So  hear  me  all  boys  darlin', 

Don't  think  I'm  tippin'  you  chaff, 
The  right  to  be  kilt  we'll  divide  wid  him 
And  give  him  the  larger  half. 

CHARLES    GRAHAM    HALPIN. 
(Miles  O'Reilly.) 


TWO  FIANCEES  139 


CHAPTER  XV 
TWO  FIANCEES 

WE  were  all  much  interested  in  the  case  of 
a  young  lieutenant  who  had  lost  a  leg  and 
was  slowly  recovering.  He  had  written 
to  his  fiancee  that  he  was  disabled,  and  would  give 
her  up  if  she  so  desired.  He  was  now  awaiting 
anxiously  her  reply. 

Quite  coincidently,  at  the  other  end  of  the  ward 
was  Major  Hemlock,  of  the  Forty-seventh  New 
York  Infantry,  who  had  lost  a  leg  and  he,  too,  had 
written  his  fiancee  offering  to  release  her  from  her 
promise.  As  time  went  by  without  bringing  a 
reply  the  lieutenant  became  very  despondent. 
One  day  in  passing  I  saw  an  unopened  letter  lying 
upon  his  breast  and  exclaimed :  "  Oh,  lieutenant, 
your  letter  has  come  after  all ;  but  it  is  not  opened ! 
Shall  I  open  it  for  you?  " 

"  No,"  he  answered  in  a  despairing  voice.  "  I 
know  what  it  says." 

Unable  to  persuade  him  to  read  his  letter,  and 
feeling  quite  sure  that  it  must  be  favorable,  I  ran 
quickly  to  Mrs.  Mayhew,  of  his  State  agency, 
telling  her  of  the  letter.  She  went  at  once  to  him, 
and  in  her  sweet  sisterly  way  at  last  induced  him 
to  consent  to  open  the  letter.  His  intuitions 
proved  only  too  true.  "  Perhaps,"  the  girl  had 


140  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

written,  "  it  would  be  best ;  we  could  still  be 
friends." 

Our  indignation  knew  no  bounds.  The  poor 
fellow  sank  rapidly  and  died  a  few  days  later  of  a 
broken  heart.  He  was  carried  by  his  comrades, 
led  by  the  funeral  march  of  the  shrill  fife  and  the 
drum,  to  his  soldier's  grave  in  the  woods,  over 
which  they  fired  the  farewell  salute. 

During  this  time  I  was  greatly  surprised  one 
day  on  visiting  this  ward  to  find  Major  Hemlock 
dressed  and  sitting  up,  looking  happy  and  like  an 
other  man.  After  a  second  glance  I  saw  the  cause 
of  this  change,  for  beside  him  sat  a  charming 
young  girl  who,  in  reply  to  his  letter  offering  her 
a  release,  had  started  at  once  and  succeeded  in 
reaching  him  safely.  The  Major  was  soon  able 
to  travel  and  the  happy  pair  returned  to  their  home 
in  Philadelphia  where  they  were  married. 

My  friend  Mary  Blackmar,  a  medical  student, 
enlisted  as  nurse,  that  she  might  serve  her  year  in 
the  field  work  with  its  wider  experience,  instead  of 
in  some  regular  city  hospital.  A  year  after  the 
war  she  graduated  from  the  Woman's  Medical 
College,  in  Philadelphia,  and  assisted  for  a  year  in 
the  dispensary  with  those  wonderful  pioneer 
women  doctors  Mary  and  Elizabeth  Blackwell,  in 
New  York  City.  Miss  Blackmar  married,  and 
finally,  owing  to  ill  health,  was  obliged  to  live  in 
Florida,  where  she  still  practises  medicine  as  Doc 
tor  Mary  Blackmar  Bruson. 

In  the  winter  of  1909  I  found  a  little  notice  in 


TWO  FIANCEES 


141 


the  newspaper  stating  that  Doctor  Elizabeth 
Blackwell  was  still  living  near  London  at  ninety 
years  of  age.  About  the  same  time  I  met  a  gentle 
man  of  my  native  city  whose  father  (this  name  has 
escaped  me)  was  the  first  reputable  doctor  to  hold 


MARY   BLACKMAR 


consultation  with  these  remarkable  women.  This 
required  courage,  for  at  that  time  women  doctors 
were  considered  bold  intruders,  "  unsexed "  — 
whatever  that  may  mean  —  and  why?  Because 
they  thought  that  it  was  time  for  women  to  know 
something  about  their  own  bodies  and  diseases. 


142  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

One  morning  Miss  Blackmar,  quite  excited,  her 
dark  eyes  dancing  with  pleasure,  ran  into  my  tent 
exclaiming,  "  O,  Colonel "  (meaning  me)  "  such  a 
beautiful  girl  is  in  camp,  you  must  see  her!  I 
don't  know  how  she  got  here;  but  I  can't  stop  a 
moment,  I  must  run  back  to  my  patients  ". 

Soon  after,  a  graceful  blonde  was  sent  to  us  from 
headquarters  to  be  entertained.  She  stated  that, 
though  English,  she  was  in  Edinboro  when  the 
news  reached  her  that  her  brother  was  wounded 
at  City  Point,  and  she  lost  no  time  in  sailing  on 
the  first  vessel  to  America,  where,  perhaps  owing 
to  her  good  looks  and  persistence  she  succeeded  in 
reaching  our  hospital.  Meanwhile  the  brother 
had  returned  to  his  regiment,  the  Thirty-seventh 
Wisconsin,  before  Petersburg.  I  found  means, 
however,  to  communicate  with  him,  and  in  a  few 
hours  he  pulled  rein  at  our  tent,  having  ridden 
many  miles  without  a  halt. 

It  soon  developed  that  he  was  something  more 
than  a  brother;  though  the  girl  claimed  that  this 
dashing,  handsome  young  Englishman,  Captain 
Robert  Eden,  was  an  adopted  brother.  He  often 
got  leave  of  absence  that  he  might  spend  an  hour 
with  his  fiancee,  Miss  Annie  Bain,  who  became 
our  friend  and  companion  and,  though  taking  no 
part  in  our  work,  remained  with  us  during  some 
months. 

About  this  time  our  hospitality  was  taxed  still 
further.  An  orderly  brought  a  pleasant-looking 
woman  and  presented  a  note  from  Hospital  Head- 


TWO  FIANCEES  143 

quarters  which  read  —  "  Please  entertain  Miss 
Mason,  who  is  on  her  way  South  by  *  flag  of 
truce '  .  .  .  She  is  secesh.  Watch  her." 

Miss  Mason  remained  a  few  days,  and  went 
South  by  first  detachment  of  paroled  rebel  patients 
without  any  incident  of  interest. 


144  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  STORY  OF  MY  PASS 

WE  were  often  annoyed  by  the  calls  of 
officers  who,  having  little  to  occupy  their 
time,  could  not  understand  how  it  was 
possible  for  us  to  be  too  tired  to  entertain  them. 
They  frequently  called  on  me  when  I  had  many 
letters  to  write,  and  I  would  say  to  them :  "  Well, 
gentlemen,  if  it's  any  satisfaction  to  you  to  sit  here 
while  I  write  letters,  I've  no  objection,  but  these 
home  letters  for  the  Boys  are  my  first  duty". 
They  thought  I  should  feel  complimented  by  the 
calls  of  headquarters'  officers,  but  I  assured  them  I 
was  quite  aware  that  they  had  come  to  me  only  to 
kill  time,  when  they  had  exhausted  all  other 
amusements. 

It  was  really  too  much  honor,  and  too  much  of 
a  good  thing  when  forty-five  officers  called  on  me 
in  one  week,  some  coming  in  from  the  front  on 
short  leave  when  all  was  quiet  on  the  James,  others 
from  Grant's  Headquarters,  and  from  our  Hos 
pital  Headquarters. 

One  evening  I  was  very  tired  and  three  of  these 
officers,  fine  looking  men  in  full  uniform,  but 
slightly  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  annoyed  me 
greatly.  At  "  taps  "  I  said  significantly  —  "  It's 
taps,  gentlemen !  " 

i(  That  does  not  concern  us,"  one  replied,  "  we 
can  stay  as  long  as  we  wish." 


THE  STORY  OF  MY  PASS  145 

"  General  Grant  himself  could  not  stay  in  my 
tent  after  taps  ",  I  retorted  indignantly. 

They  made  no  move  to  go,  however.  I  arose 
and  simply  pointed  to  the  tent  opening,  declining 
any  reply  to  their  remarks.  They  at  last  passed 
out  in  great  indignation,  and  immediately  one  of 
these  doctors  began  a  petty  persecution.  Know 
ing  that  I  had  lost  my  pass  he  tried  to  have  me 
sent  to  Washington,  This  soon  became  known  in 
camp,  and  my  friends  set  themselves  to  work  to 
circumvent  his  unmanly  spite. 

He  obtained  an  order  from  the  Provost  Mar 
shall,  General  Patrick,  by  which  all  persons  in 
camp  not  having  passes  should  report  at  once  to 
Washington.  It  was  necessary,  however,  that  he 
should  notify  personally  any  one  so  unfortunate  as 
to  have  no  pass.  When  he  called  at  my  tent  I 
was  never  to  be  found,  for  whenever  the  doctor 
approached  some  one  would  say  "  Here  comes  C !  " 
and  I  began  a  system  of  remarkable  evolutions 
from  one  tent  to  another  in  the  row,  gliding  back 
and  forth,  until  he  had  to  give  up  the  search  for 
the  day. 

Fortunately  my  good  friend,  Mrs.  Doctor 
Painter,  had  made  such  a  favorable  report  of  me 
to  General  Grant's  Headquarters  that  a  pass  was 
promised.  The  utmost  diplomacy  was  necessary 
to  gain  time,  but  at  last  the  pass  was  handed  to 
me,  secretly,  on  Thanksgiving  eve,  as  we  were 
decorating  the  mess  hall  for  the  coming  feast. 

The  next  day  I  was  at  hpme  when  Doctor  C. 


146  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

called.  I  received  him  with  much  courtesy  and 
said :  "  I  hear,  doctor,  that  you  have  called  several 
times  when  I  was  not  in.  To  what  am  I  indebted 
for  so  much  attention?  Be  seated." 

The  florid  face  grew  redder,  but  I  gave  him  no 
chance  to  speak,  and  in  my  most  agreeable  manner 
I  talked  and  talked  of  everything  I  could  think  of, 
despite  his  many  efforts  to  get  in  a  word.  Finally 
I  grew  tired  of  the  fun,  as  were  also  some  friends 
and  listeners  in  the  adjoining  tent.  Then,  as  if 
just  remembering  his  attempts  to  speak,  I  said, 
"  O,  doctor,  had  you  something  to  say  to  me?  " 

Growing  still  redder,  if  possible,  and  sitting  un 
comfortably  on  the  edge  of  the  barrel  chair  that  I 
had  insisted  on  his  taking,  he  said,  "  O,  only  that 
an  order  is  received  that  all  persons  not  having 
authority  must  report  to  Washington.  Er  -  er  - 
have  you  a  pass?  " 

"  Doctor,  you  know  that  my  pass  was  stolen." 
And  I  asked  demurely  what  I  should  do. 

With  an  air  of  exultation  he  sprang  up  and  said 
—  "  Unfortunately,  Miss  Smith,  you  will  have  to 
report  to  Washington  to-morrow." 

Then  slowly  taking  the  pass  from  my  pocket,  I 
said  hesitatingly,  "  Well,  Doctor,  here  is  a  paper 
that  perhaps  will  help  me  ",  and  I  handed  him  the 
Grant  pass. 

"  Headquarters  Armies  United  States, 
City  Point,  Virginia,  March  16,  1865. 
Miss  Smith  will  be  afforded  all  facilities  that  Army 
Commanders  afford  to  other  State  Agents. 

Free  transportation  will  be  given  her  on  all  Gover- 


THE  STORY  OF  MY  PASS  147 

ment  steamers  and  Military  Railroads.  Guards  and 
pickets  will  pass  her  accordingly. 

By  command  of 
LIEUTENANT  GENERAL  GRANT 

T.  S.  Bowers,  A.  A.  G." 

I  watched  him  in  silence  till  he  finished  reading. 
His  face  was  crimson  and  he  said  with  a  nervous 
giggle,  "  O,  yes,  er  —  I'll  fix  you  up  at  medical 
headquarters  all  right !  " 

"  Will  you,  indeed?  "  I  replied,  "  I  think  I  have 
fixed  you.  Now  you  may  go  ",  and  he  lost  no 
time  in  going. 

The  laughter  in  the  next  tent  must  have  reached 
him  as  he  darted  out  and  across  the  road  to  the 
hospital  headquarters,  where  he  exclaimed  breath 
lessly  :  "  D that  Miss  Smith.  When  I  thought 

I  had  her  all  right  she  kept  me  on  nettles  for  an 
hour,  and  then  showed  me  an  order  from  General 
Grant  ranking  me  ". 

This  soon  became  camp  gossip,  and  he  was 
jeered  from  one  side  to  the  other  of  the  hospital. 


148  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THANKSGIVING,  1864 

UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP,  VIRGINIA 

REATLY  needing  a  day's  rest  from  hos* 
I  -w  pital  work,  I  ordered  an  ambulance,  good 
government  horses  and  driver,  and  invited 
my  guest,  Miss  Bain,  and  two  reliable  officers  of 
the  Corps  d'  Afric,  stationed  at  General  Grant's 
headquarters,  City  Point,  to  accompany  us,  and 
accept  an  invitation  to  dinner. 

We  started  for  the  renowned  "  Dutch  Gap ", 
which  had  been  excavated  under  the  supervision  of 
General  Benjamin  Butler,  then  in  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  James,  and  it  was  intended  to  compel 
the  enemy  to  make  a  complete  change  of  base. 

A  ride  of  seven  or  eight  miles,  through  woods 
and  over  bumping  corduroy  roads  and  ditches, 
brought  us  to  the  James  River,  where  we  had  been 
invited  to  a  Thanksgiving  dinner  of  goose  (save 
the  mark)  on  a  commissary  barge  then  anchored 
opposite  the  Gap.  To  my  annoyance  and  Miss 
Bain's  consternation,  as  she  was  interested  only  in 
Captain  Eden,  then  at  the  front,  we  found  ten  or 
twelve  officers  in  full  dress  waiting  to  receive  us 
formally  on  the  barge,  when  we  arrived.  It  took 
a  great  deal  of  courage  and  not  a  little  tact  to  get 
through  that  dinner  creditably,  while  every  man 
craved  special  attention. 


UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP 


149 


After  dinner  we  rowed  on  the  narrow  river  to 
the  monitor  Onondaga  and  another  war  vessel 
near  by.  On  board  the  Onondaga  we  encountered 
another  crowd  of  naval  officers,  and  were  urgently 
invited  to  inspect  these  wonderfully  constructed 


GENERAL  BENJAMIN  BUTLER 

vessels  which  were  stationed  here  to  protect  the 
Gap,  and  to  prevent  the  rebel  gunboats  coming 
down  the  river. 

We  landed  near  this  great  excavation  called 
"  Dutch  Gap ",  which  was  to  be  Butler's  chef 
d'oeuvre,  viz.,  a  channel  cut  across  a  long  penin- 


150  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

sula  dividing  the  river  at  the  end  into  two  branches 
running  almost  parallel;  in  front  of  which  the 
formidable  Confederate  mortars  were  continually 
sending  shells  all  about  this  locality.  A  shell  had 
dropped  directly  into  the  dredging  machine,  shat 
tering  it  completely  and  it  now  lay  on  one  side  like 
a  huge  black  mastodon.  The  channel  lacked  about 
twenty-five  feet  of  successful  completion,  but  ow 
ing  to  "orders"  no  further  work  was  accomplished, 
and  thus  ended  the  great  Dutch  Gap  strategy  of 
Ben  Butler. 

The  small  row  boat  landed  us  on  the  muddy 
shore  where  little  foliage  remained  to  cover  the 
denuded  ground  of  the  rough  camp  of  an  engineer 
ing  corps  and  its  guard.  Despite  the  almost  con 
stant  war  courtesy  of  interchanging  shots  and 
shells,  roaring  on  either  side  from  the  forts,  and 
generally  passing  safely  above  the  heads  of 
'  Yank  "  and  "  Johnnie  "  alike  on  each  side  of  the 
river,  they  enjoyed  many  friendly  talks  across. 
Thus  they  broke  the  monotony  of  picket  duty  and 
gopher  holes,  while  telling  camp  stories,  true  or 
otherwise,  as  the  occasion  suggested. 

A  story  was  told  me  that  bears  out  on  its  face 
the  imprint  of  possibility  during  the  last  days  of  the 
rebellion.  A  daring  young  "  Reb  ",  tired  of  life 
in  the  swamp  and  woods,  with  insufficient  rations, 
while  waiting  for  orders  to  advance,  one  dark 
night  swam  boldly  across  the  narrow  stream  and 
was  cordially  received. 

After  enjoying  a  jolly  evening  around  the  camp 


UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP  151 

fire,  and  especially,  a  good  "  square  meal ",  he  said 
to  the  Yankee  boys,  "  You  uns  have  plenty  of  good 
grub  any  way,  and  I'm  about  starved  out.  I  say, 
Yanks,  suppose  you  uns  just  surround  me  and  cap 
ture  me  and  march  me  up  to  headquarters  as  a 
deserter?  I'd  rather  stay  on  this  side  and  have 
good  rations  than  to  starve  in  the  swamp  on  the 
other  side  ". 

This  the  "  Yanks  "  did  very  cheerfully,  and  so 
another  deserter  was  added  to  the  Union  army. 

Our  party  started  to  walk  around  what  was  to 
have  been  Ferry  Island,  where  the  tortuous  river 
made  a  sharp  turn  at  the  end,  almost  doubling  on 
itself.  An  officer  walking  with  me  constantly 
changed  from  one  side  to  the  other.  This  sur 
prised  me  and  on  my  asking  why  he  did  this  he 
replied  "  O  nothing ! "  ignoring  the  question, 
though  he  continued  changing  sides  as  we  walked 
on  the  uneven  path.  I  insisted  at  last  upon  an 
explanation.  He  replied :  "  Well,  you  know  the 
rebs  are  just  across  this  narrow  water  in  the 
woods,  and  it  wouldn't  look  well  if  a  lady  should 
get  a  stray  shot !  " 

"  So  you're  making  a  target  of  yourself,  Major, 
to  gratify  my  curiosity ! "  I  was  insisting  on 
going  back,  when  a  "  Johnny  Reb  "  called  across 
the  stream  in  a  pleasant  tone,  "  Better  take  those 
ladies  away !  " 

Mounting  the  great  hill  to  look  into  the  aban 
doned  ditch  where  so  much  time  and  labor  had  been 
lost,  we  made  a  strikingly  conspicuous  group  with 


152  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


the  officers  in  uni 
forms,  bright  with 
the  sun's  reflec 
tions.  Suddenly 
in  the  midst  of 
witty  talk  and 
badinage  a  shell 
from  the  Rebel 
mortar  shrieked 
over  our  heads, 
followed  quickly 
by  a  second  one 
with  a  deafening 
frightful  explo 
sion,  and  for  a  sec 
ond  we  were 
stunned  and  al 
most  paralyzed. 

But  not  a  mo 
ment  was  lost. 
An  officer  on 
either  side 
grabbed  the  hands 
of  Miss  Bain  and 
myself  and  "  sans 
ceremonie ",  ran 
us  quickly  down 
the  hill  until  we 
were  safe  in  a 
large  bomb-proof 


UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP  153 

gopher  hole,  where  we  stopped  for  breath.  These 
gallant  officers  carried  a  quantity  of  "  Sacred  Soil " 
on  their  spotless  white  trousers  and  polished  boots. 
Here  we  waited  while  the  shells  continued  to  fall 
at  some  distance. 

A  large  hole  had  been  dug  in  the  side  of  the  hill 
where  a  plank  floor  and  roof  had  been  made  to 
prevent  falling  in.  This  served  as  a  mess  room, 
while  around  the  side  of  the  high  bluff,  in  small 
gopher  holes,  men  hived  like  ants  in  their  earth 
hills. 

Hospitality  suggested  that  a  supper  be  prepared 
for  us,  and  it  was  spread  on  planks  with  news 
paper  tablecloth,  tin  cups  and  plates,  and  two-tined 
forks.  An  old  aunty  cook  waited  on  us,  and 
served  some  rather  weighty  biscuit.  The  "  piece 
de  resistance  "  at  this  supper  and  also  at  the  barge 
dinner,  was  a  rather  opaque  tumbler  filled  with 
peppermint  sticks,  which  had  been  procured  from 
the  sutler. 

The  firing  continued,  and  shells  struck  the  water 
in  the  only  channel  by  which  we  could  return. 
Night  was  coming  on,  and  I  was  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  to  do.  Not  wishing  to  alarm  Miss  Bain,  I 
took  an  officer  aside  and  consulted  him. 

They  would  do  the  best  they  could  for  us  with 
only  gophers  for  shelter,  if  we  wished  to  pass  the 
night  there.  If  we  attempted  to  cross  the  river  it 
must  be  at  our  own  risk,  as  the  firing  would  prob 
ably  continue  until  nightfall. 

I  decided  at  once  for  myself,  but  Miss  Bain  was 


154  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

my  guest  and  must  be  given  a  choice.  The 
agency  people  had  always  been  careful  to  avoid 
even  an  appearance  of  evil.  "  Should  we  brave 
the  comment  of  staying  all  night  in  a  strange 
camp,  or  must  we  risk  our  lives  in  attempting  to 
escape  the  shells  falling  on  our  route?  "  Without 
a  moment's  hesitation  the  courageous  girl  said 
firmly  and  briefly,  "  I'd  rather  risk  the  shells  and 
drowning  ". 

A  boat  was  ordered  at  a  pistol's  point,  and  the 
poor  pallid  rower  was  so  frightened  that  he  could 
scarcely  hold  the  oars.  We  got  in  with  only  our 
two  escorts;  the  others  were  evidently  not  at  all 
eager  to  accompany  us  back,  but  stood  behind  the 
hill  anxiously  watching  our  dangerous  passage. 

As  we  passed  close  by  the  Onondaga  and  her 
companion  nothing  living  could  be  seen  on  these 
fully  manned  monitors.  They  had  closed  down 
their  steel  decks  while  the  shells  struck,  ricocheted 
and  fell  harmlessly  into  the  water  like  great 
marbles,  as  we  passed  by.  A  few  feet  farther  on 
was  the  barge  where  we  had  dined  with  our  mili 
tary  escort  and  where  busy  hands  had  helped  us 
into  the  boat.  It  was  now  as  deserted  as  if  never 
occupied,  the  men  had  fled  for  safety  to  the  woods. 
As  we  neared  the  muddy  bank  one  shell  struck  a 
few  feet  astern  of  our  boat,  sending  up  a  column 
of  water  like  a  geyser;  another  passed  close  over 
head  with  its  uncanny  blood-curdling  shriek,  and 
struck  the  shore  just  ahead  of  us,  where  it  ex- 


UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP  155 

ploded,  driving  pieces  of  shell  and  mud  in  every 
direction. 

On  reaching  the  mud  shore,  it  was  almost  im 
possible  to  mount  the  rough  improvised  dock  or 
float.  However,  our  escorts  pushed  and  we 
climbed  up,  with  no  formalities,  and  without  loss 
of  time.  At  first  I  could  not  see  my  ambulance, 
but  soon  it  came  out  of  the  woods  with  the 
frightened  horses  dashing  down  the  hill.  The 
driver  as  he  turned,  shouted,  "  I  can't  stop,  you 
must  get  in  somehow !  "  Certainly  it  was  "  some 
how  "  that  our  officers  tumbled  us  into  the  rocking 
ambulance  as  it  turned  and  dashed  wildly  back  into 
the  woods. 

No  word  was  spoken  until  the  driver  checked 
his  mad  race  and  we  were  out  of  range  of  the  still 
falling  shells,  and  could  congratulate  ourselves  on 
our  narrow  escape.  We  reached  camp  at  twi 
light,  a  little  excited  by  our  adventure,  but  quite 
the  heroes  of  the  day;  and  we  resolved  that  it 
would  be  a  long  time  before  we  again  wandered 
out  of  camp. 

Since  writing  the  above  experience  I  have  found 
in  General  Butler's  autobiography,  the  only  his 
torical  statement  of  that  strategical  attempt  on  the 
James  River,  and  it  confirms  my  memory.  This 
work  was  considered  of  the  greatest  military  im 
portance  then,  and  if  accomplished  as  designed,  it 
would,  without  doubt,  have  given  to  our  navy  and 
land  forces  the  control  of  the  river  almost  directly 
in  front  of  Richmond.  This  would  have  shortened 


156  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

by  several  months  the  acute  warfare  by  which 
hundreds  of  lives  were  sacrificed. 

That  it  failed  when  all  was  prepared  to  blow  out 
the  bulk  head,  and  admit  our  monitors  through 
the  canal,  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the  original 
Commander  (Smith)  was  ordered  elsewhere,  and 
that  the  new  Commander  begged  Commodore 
Ludlow  not  to  open  Dutch  Gap  because  he  feared 
that  the  enemies'  fleet  would  come  down,  and  he 
did  not  know  that  he  could  sustain  the  attack,  etc. 
This  Commander  was  dismissed  for  cowardice 
later,  when  he  took  fright  while  the  enemies'  fleet 
attempted  to  come  down  the  river,  and,  without 
any  attempt  at  defense,  ordered  the  Potomac  to 
make  all  speed,  and  only  stopped  when  he  knew 
that  an  accident  to  the  Confederate  vessels  had 
prevented  an  assault  on  the  United  States  Head 
quarters  at  City  Point,  which  might  have  de 
stroyed  the  camp  and  involved  an  entire  change  of 
base. 

That  one  finds  little  allusion  to  this  engineering 
attempt  is  doubtless  due  to  the  fact  that  most 
histories  of  that  time  were  written  by  West  Point 
officers,  who  gave  few  details  outside  their  own 
personal  experiences;  and  regard  for  the  gallant 
volunteer  service  was  seldom  admitted  and  too 
often  entirely  ignored. 

General  Butler  often  fell  under  this  ban,  and  he 
lost  no  opportunity,  when  possible,  of  publicly 
showing  the  superior  education  in  tactics  of  the 


UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP  157 

volunteer  officers  and  men  under  his  command 
during  the  war. 

In  this  personal  sketch  I  do  not  attempt  to  write 
history;  but  give  only  a  few  selections  regarding 
the  expectations  then  known  to  many  in  that  local 
ity  of  the  James  River.  I  have  given  only  a  few 
selections  from  "  Butler ".  These  any  one  may 
verify,  and  in  doing  so  will  come  across  many  other 
details  of  interest. 

"  Captain  Melantha  Smith,  of  the  navy,  assured 
me  that  it  was  impossible  for  his  monitors,  draw 
ing  sixteen  feet  of  water,  to  get  up  further  than 
Trent's  Reach.  We  made  a  reconnaissance  to  de 
vise  a  plan  by  which  he  might  ascend  the  James 
with  his  vessels,  then  lying  at  a  point  called  Dutch 
Gap. 

"  Here  is  a  peculiar  formation,  the  river  running 
up .  by  Trent's  Reach,  bends  very  sharply  to  the 
right  and  returns  again,  in  an  elongated  horseshoe, 
so  directly  that  while  it  has  passed  over  a  distance 
of  over  seven  miles,  the  waters  of  the  river  at  a 
depth  of  twenty-five  feet,  approach  so  nearly,  that 
there  is  only  about  four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
feet  from  the  water  on  the  other  side  across  the 
neck  at  Dutch  Gap  to  twenty-five  feet  of  water  on 
the  lower  side,  so  a  canal  wide  and  deep  enough  for 
our  gunboats  to  get  through,  would  require  a  cut 
less  than  four  hundred  feet  long,  sixteen  feet  deep, 
sixty  feet  wide  at  the  bottom  and  ninety  feet  at  the 
top. 

"  After  having  made  a  reconnaissance  with  Cap- 


158  REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

tain  Smith,  then  in  command  of  the  naval  forces  of 
the  James  River,  I  went  down  to  City  Point  and 
asked  General  Grant  and  Chief  Engineer  Barnard 
to  come  up  with  us  to  examine  the  premises.  This 
they  did  and  made  a  careful  examination  of  the 
point.  This  was  known  as  Dutch  Gap  for  the  rea 
son  that  some  enterprising  German  had  cut  quite  a 
gap  in  undertaking  to  build  a  waterway  through, 
many  years  before.  We  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  a  desirable  thing  to  do,  and  General 
Grant  directed  me  to  undertake  it. 

"  Exploration  proved  it  to  be  of  very  hard  lime 
stone  and  gravel;  in  it  was  imbedded  petrified 
wood,  whole  trees  being  turned  into  a  very  friable 
stone,  easily  broken.* 

"  The  enemy,  appreciating  the  importance  of  this 
strategic  undertaking,  and  finding  that  we  could  not 
be  reached  by  direct  fire  of  their  artillery,  erected 
some  mortar  batteries  on  the  other  side  of  the 
James  River.  At  a  mile  and  a  half  distance  it  is 
not  easy  to  drop  a  shell  with  any  certainty  into  a 
space  three  hundred  feet  long  by  ninety  feet  wide. 

"  The  first  thing  to  do  was  to  station  a  couple  of 
well  instructed  men  at  points  from  which  every 
shell  could  be  watched  during  its  wild  flight.  These 
observers  after  a  little  practice  could  tell  almost 


*  I  still  have  a  piece  of  this  black  stone  picked  up 
at  this  point,  at  the  time  of  my  visit  there  in  the  year 
1864.  I  have  also  an  excellent  cut  of  the  gap  at  this 
time,  better  in  some  details,  I  think,  than  the  pictures 
in  the  Butler  Autobiography. 


UNDER  FIRE  AT  DUTCH  GAP  159 

precisely  where  the  missile  would  land  —  whether 
it  would  come  into  our  excavation.  While  the 
men  were  at  work,  these  men  were  on  the  watch, 
and  if  a  shell  was  likely  to  fall  in  our  way,  the 
watchmen  would  call  out  "  Holes  ",  whereupon  the 
men  would  rush  into  the  bomb-proofs,  and  come 
out  again  and  resume  work  as  soon  as  the  shell 
had  struck  or  exploded  without  harm." 

Dutch  Gap  has  since  been  dredged  out  and  is  a 
main  channel  for  commerce  between  Richmond  and 
the  outer  world.  The  waters  of  the  James  River 
being  directed  by  the  canal,  no  longer  flow  around 
through  any  depth  at  Trench  Reach,  and  that 
which  was  the  former  channel  of  the  river  will  soon 
become  marsh  land.  Dutch  Gap  is  the  only  mili 
tary  construction  of  all  that  was  done  by  our  army, 
which  remains  of  use  to  the  country  in  time  of 
peace;  —  a  monument  to  its  projector  and  con 
structor,  —  one  of  "  Butler's  failures  ". 

My  army  friend  of  1864,  Mr.  J.  Yates  Peek  and 
his  wife,  within  a  few  years,  have  sailed  through 
Butler's  Gap,  remembering  the  days  of  its  intended 
strategy  and  the  great  disappointment  when  the 
navy  caused  its  failure. 


160   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

DOMESTIC  LIFE  IN  CAMP  AND  OTHER  INCI 
DENTS 

IN  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  State  quarters 
combined,  we  had  three  good-sized  connecting 
tents ;  and  later  the  little  New  York  house  was 
added. 

Our  kitchen  was  generally  run  by  Hannah,  a 
rather  incompetent  contraband,  with  great  won 
dering  eyes  and  slipshod  feet.  There  were  many 
such  about  camp,  girls  and  women  as  well  as  men 
and  boys  —  anxious  to  work  for  shelter  and  food, 
but  without  knowledge  of  the  value  of  money, 
which  they  generally  squandered  at  the  sutler's  for 
some  trifle  such  as  candy,  or  something  to  eat. 
Sufficient  for  the  day  was  their  evil  tempter. 

A  good  cooking  stove  was  a  great  comfort,  and 
Doctor  Painter,  an  excellent  cook,  made  our  mess 
appetizing.  The  agents  were  expected  to  get  their 
sustenance  from  State  supplies,  and  we  could  buy 
from  the  Commissary  Department  good  bread  and 
coffee.  Our  table  was  made  of  boards  resting  on 
barrels,  and  sometimes  we  were  quite  stylish,  hav 
ing  a  white  tablecloth  instead  of  newspapers.  Our 
dishes,  mostly  of  tin,  served  quite  well  for  hungry, 
hurried  appetites. 

Our  reception  tent,  which  was  the  largest,  had  at 
first  a  bunk  in  one  corner  where  the  rain  sometimes 


DOMESTIC  LIFE  IN  CAMP  161 

percolated  through  the  canvas  walls,  and  one  morn 
ing,  —  my  pillow  touching  the  wet  wall  of  the  tent, 
—  I  found  my  head  in  a  little  puddle  of  water.  But 
I  was  in  better  health,  if  possible,  than  before.  We 
laughed  at  these  happenings,  also  when  the  rain 
ran  in  streams  over  our  ground  floor  and  at  night 
we  were  obliged  to  sit  resting,  or  writing  by  the 
light  of  candles  stuck  in  bottles,  with  our  feet  on 
logs  to  keep  them  dry.  Meanwhile  a  log  fire 
burned  cheerfully  in  the  rough  mud  and  log  chim 
ney.  A  barrel  was  placed  on  top  for  draught.  It 
sometimes  caught  fire,  but  some  one  always  man 
aged  to  discover  it,  and  knocked  it  off  without  set 
ting  fire  to  the  canvas  roofs.  Our  barrel  chairs 
were  not  luxurious,  but,  like  everything  in  camp, 
they  served  their  purpose. 

Though  our  tents  were  not  transparent,  the  can 
dle  distinctly  silhouetted  our  forms  on  the  walls  as 
we  sat  talking  with  friends,  so  that  passers  could 
recognize  visitors  and  perhaps  wait  for  a  more 
favorable  time  to  call.  During  the  day  our  tent 
flaps  were  always  open  hospitably.  Agents  and 
officers  often  visited  and  talked  of  home,  friends, 
comforts,  etc.,  while  each  was  always  ready  to  as 
sist  in  an  emergency.  Convalescents  often  got 
leave  to  come  for  some  luxury  or  necessity;  they 
craved  fruit  and  vegetables,  especially  onions,  and 
one  so  craved  this  luxury  that  he  offered  me  fifty 
cents  for  one.  Of  course  it  became  a  gift,  and  one 
that  was  greatly  enjoyed. 

The  wife  of  the  Ohio  agent,  a  pretty  brunette 


162    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

with  long  black  curls  and  black  eyes,  became  very 
ill.  Their  small  tents  were  not  comfortable.  All 
the  ladies  helped  in  many  ways  to  make  her  limita 
tions  less  trying.  We  were  fearful  of  a  sad  ending 
as  she  lay  helplessly  weak  for  many  days,  but  youth 
and  courage,  with  good  care,  at  last  put  her  upon 
her  feet  again  quite  well. 

An  extremely  annoying  encounter  occurred  while 
I  was  with  Mrs.  Painter  in  my  little  house  attached 
to  another  tent.  One  evening,  with  considerable 
clatter,  an  officer,  followed  by  his  orderly,  halted 
at  my  door  and  knocked  for  admission.  I  saw  at 
once  that  this  otherwise  fine  young  man,  from 
Brooklyn,  was  under  the  influence  of  liquor.  There 
was  no  escape  and  I  must,  if  possible,  get  along 
peaceably  with  him. 

My  friends  in  the  next  tent  could  hear  every 
word  and  could  have  helped  me  to  get  rid  of  him, 
but  they  thought  it  a  good  joke  to  get  me  cornered, 
while  they  laughed  and  quietly  enjoyed  the  inter 
view. 

"  Miss  Smith ",  mumbled  the  visitor,  "  I'm  so 
glad  to  see  you.  I  told  the  fer-rers  I'd  give  fifty 
dollars  for  an  introduction  to  you,  when  I  saw  you 
on  the  ch-cha-chapel  platform  singing  just  as  if  you 
didn't  care  fu-fur  any  body  ". 

I  could  think  of  no  plan  to  get  rid  of  him,  and  still 
hoped  my  friends  would  come  to  my  rescue. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Smith  ",  he  went  on,  "  I  wish  I  had  a 
ba-ba-badge  like  yours.  Couldn't  you  give  it  to 
me?" 


DOMESTIC  LIFE  IN  CAMP  163 

Thinking  to  escape  his  effusions  and  to  hasten 
his  exit,  I  took  off  my  precious  Lincoln  mourning 
badge  and  handed  it  to  him.  But  he  grew  more 
persistent,  saying: 

"  Wouldn't  you  just  pin-pin  it  on?  " 

In  silent  indignation  and  protest  I  did  so,  to  his 
great  satisfaction.  Then  as  his  speech  grew  more 
indistinct,  he  added :  "  W-w-when  I  tell  the  fer- 
rers  that  M-Miss  Smith  put-put  that  on,  they'll  all 
be  ravin'  jealous!" 

I  do  not  remember  how  at  last  I  got  him  out  of 
the  little  house.  I  saw  his  orderly  help  him  to 
mount  a  superb  horse  that  had  impatiently  pawed 
the  ground  since  he  entered. 

My  indignation  passed  for  little  above  the  shouts 
of  laughter  at  my  discomfiture  that  for  once  I  was 
caught  in  a  dilemma. 

But  this  recalcitrant  young  officer  received  a 
startling  communication  on  the  following  day 
which,  doubtless,  caused  a  permanent  revulsion  of 
admiration. 

The  wife  of  an  officer,  with  her  four  year  old 
girl,  was  very  anxious  to  join  her  husband  at  the 
front.  Knowing  that  I  held  a  pass,  she  persuaded 
me  to  take  her  to  the  camp,  which  might  have  made 
me  considerable  trouble,  as  she  could  not  get  per 
mission  from  Headquarters.  Being  willing  to  help 
her,  if  possible,  I  sent  for  an  ambulance  and  driver, 
and  we  started  over  the  corduroy  roads,  ditches, 
ruts  and  mud,  —  a  foot  deep  in  some  places,  — 
occasionally  in  danger  of  being  overturned,  as  we 


164   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

rode  at  times  partly  on  one  wheel  or  two,  rarely  on 
four.  In  a  sudden  lurch  this  mother  so  lost  her 
head  with  fright  that  she  raised  her  feet  and  shot 
out  on  one  side  into  the  "  Sacred  Soil "  of  Virginia, 
quite  up  to  her  knees.  I  grasped  the  child  and 
flung  myself  with  her  on  the  opposite  side,  thus 
righting  the  ambulance,  and  feeling  little  sympathy 
for  the  mother  who  forgot  her  child,  though  her 
feet  were  completely  covered  with  mud.  We 
found  her  husband  in  camp,  and  I  left  them  quite 
happy  in  their  tent  before  Petersburg. 

One  of  our  surgeons  owned  a  superb  black  horse 
that  was  so  intelligent,  one  could  not  pass  him  with 
out  petting  him.  This  he  greatly  enjoyed,  and  he 
showed  that  he  remembered  me.  His  handsome 
owner  remarked,  "  I'm  soon  going  to  take  you  for 
a  ride  on  him  ". 

"  O,  you  are,  indeed.  I  believe  it  takes  two  to 
make  an  engagement,  and  I  have  reasons  for  not 
wishing  to  ride  with  you ",  I  replied.  "  Good 
morning !  "  and  so  I  left  him  greatly  incensed. 

Officers  were  constantly  riding  about  our  camp, 
and  among  them  was  Doctor  Weir  Mitchell  of  the 
cavalry,  now  the  distinguished  nerve  specialist  of 
Philadelphia,  and  author  of  many  scientific  works 
as  well  as  novels.  He  often  dashed  down  our  row 
on  a  spirited  horse,  his  long  hair  floating  back, 
while  his  yellow-lined  cape,  thrown  over  his  shoul 
der,  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure. 

Doctor  Olmstead,  of  the  6gth  Regiment,  a 
Brooklyn  man,  had  received  a  wound  in  his  foot 


DOMESTIC  LIFE  IN  CAMP  165 

from  a  spent  ball,  and  for  some  time  limped  quite 
comfortably  about  camp.  We  much  enjoyed  his 
occasional  calls  and  his  kindly  courtesy.  I  wear, 
on  occasion,  a  silver  trefoil  of  the  2d  Division,  2d 
Corps,  to  which  he  belonged,  made  from  a  silver 
quarter  (scarce  in  those  days)  and  urged  upon  me 
by  a  grateful  boy  patient.  Doctor  Olmstead  was 
kind  enough  to  send  it  to  Washington  and  have  it 
made.  It  is  now  a  much  valued  relic. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1864,  Mrs.  Painter,  wishing 
to  make  a  pleasant  surprise  with  home-made  cheer 
for  her  son,  Hettie  K.  Painter,  who  was  still  in 
charge  of  the  telegraph  at  Hatch's  Run,  again  in 
vited  me  to  accompany  her. 

After  the  usual  bumping  over  corduroy  and  other 
bad  roads  near  the  point,  we  found  him  in  his  little 
improvised  office  and  living  room.  Doctor  Painter 
with  the  assistance  of  a  cheerful  contraband  helper 
soon  prepared  a  surprisingly  comfortable  Christ 
mas  dinner,  which  was  greatly  enjoyed  by  our  little 
party. 

During  this  homely  visit,  Hettie  Painter  re 
marked  to  me,  "  Miss  Smith  you  are  always  look 
ing  up  some  souvenir  of  the  war,  here  is  something 
that  you  may  appreciate.  This  is  a  telegram  from 
General  Sherman,  received  here  this  morning  en 
route,  and  I  immediately  forwarded  a  copy  to  Pres 
ident  Lincoln  in  Washington.  It  is  therefore  a 
copy  of  the  message  before  it  was  despatched  to 
the  President ". 

Much  pleased  with  this  souvenir,  now  a  relic  of 


166    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

that  wonderful  conquest,  I  have  preserved  it  care 
fully.  Some  months  since  I  presented  it  to  the 
U.  S.  Grant  Post  of  Brooklyn,  and  by  them  it  was 
neatly  framed  and  is  now  in  the  fine  military  mu 
seum  of  that  post's  relics.  The  following  is  a  ver 
batim  copy : 

"  The  United  States  Military  Telegraph 
Savannah,  Ga.,  23,  1864 
Via  Fortress  Monroe,  25. 
To  his  Excellency,  President  Lincoln : 

I  beg  leave  to  present  you  as  a  Christmas  gift  the 
City  of  Savannah,  150  guns  and  plenty  of  ammuni 
tion;  also  about  twenty-five  thousand  bales  of  cotton. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
Major  General." 

I  mailed  it  to  my  home,  writing  on  the  back, 
"  This  despatch  was  just  received  by  a  telegraph 
reporter.  It  is  the  first  reliable  original  telegram." 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  167 

CHAPTER  XIX 
LOVE  IN  CAMP 

MISS  ANNIE  BAIN  was  still  with  us,  and 
had  become  my  friend,  and  my  companion, 
when  time  permitted.     She  made  a  restful 
change  in  the  monotony  of  daily  incessant  hard 
work  when,  except  for  letter  writing  or  in  some 
extreme  case  when  a  dying  soldier  called  us  out, 
we  remained  during  the  evening  in  our  tents. 

Impossible  as  it  seemed  for  a  woman  without 
pass  or  authority,  Miss  Bain  succeeded,  with  little 
difficulty,  in  reaching  City  Point.  A  little  tearful 
entreaty  from  a  beautiful  young  woman  has  often 
moved  the  heart  of  the  strictest  disciplinarian. 
Upon  reporting  at  City  Point  to  that  ogre  of  the 
department  to  all  stragglers  and  irregulars,  General 
Patrick,  he  gave  her  protection  and  permission  to 
remain  until  her  brother  should  receive  his  fur 
lough. 

Meanwhile  Captain  Robert  Eden,  of  the  37th 
Wisconsin  Regiment,  whose  wound  was  but  slight, 
had  returned  to  his  post,  and  was  at  the  front. 
There  Miss  Bain  was  not  allowed  to  follow.  But 
word  soon  reached  the  Captain,  and  in  a  day  or  two 
after  Miss  Bain's  arrival  he  dashed  into  camp  on 
his  fine  bay  horse,  well  dusted  after  his  long  ride. 
He  was  a  six-foot,  broad-shouldered,  ruddy  young 
Englishman,  and  was  brimming  over  with  antici 
pation  and  happiness. 


168   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

The  first  meeting,  however,  betrayed  the  secret 
that  "  Bob "  was  the  lover  for  whom  this  cour 
ageous  girl  had  braved  the  perils  of  the  ocean,  and 
the  dangers  and  uncertainties  of  a  country  at  war. 


MRS.   R.  C.  EDEN 


Miss  Bain  explained  that  "  Bob  "  was  her  adopted 
brother,  and  she  feared  that  he  might  die  of  his 
wounds  if  left  to  strangers,  and  so  she  had  come 
hoping  to  take  care  of  him. 


LOVE  IN  CAMP 


169 


Captain  Eden  was  promised  a  furlough  and  pro 
motion  but  it  was  long  deferred.  It  was  decided 
that  when  the  promised  furlough  came  they  would 
go  at  once  to  Washington  for  the  marriage  cere 
mony  and  for  a  honeymoon  trip.  Bob  managed  to 


COL.   R.  C.   EDEN 


get  an  occasional  pass  from  his  regiment,  then  in 
camp  before  Petersburg  always  ready  for  orders  to 
advance  for  action. 

It  was  well  that  Annie  had  succeeded  in  gaining 


170   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

from  the  department  of  the  Provost  Marshal  Gen 
eral,  the  privilege  of  remaining  till  Captain  "  Bob  " 
should  receive  his  furlough.  And  well  it  was  that 
the  words  took  that  form,  for  three  months  passed 
and  yet  no  furlough  came,  while  "  Bob  "  stormed 
and  laughed,  impatient,  though  happy  in  anticipa 
tion,  while  he  continued  to  make  flying  visits  to  our 
quarters. 

At  last  envy,  loving  a  lofty  mark,  and  not  know 
ing  the  goodness  and  purity  that  were  her  guide, 
sought  some  explanation  of  Annie's  quiet  reserve 
which  ungratified  curiosity  magnified  into  many 
vague  surmises,  and  which  were  now  taking  the 
form  of  unpleasant  rumor.  Annie  at  last  became 
conscious  of  the  false  position  in  which  she  ap 
peared,  and  which  was  chiefly  due  to  the  presence 
in  camp  of  a  handsome  young  lady  having  no  os 
tensible  object  for  her  stay. 

Thanksgiving  and  Christmas  passed  with  good 
dinners  sent  to  the  soldiers  by  the  liberality  of  citi 
zens,  who  also  sent  agents  to  assist  in  the  distribu 
tion.  Some  accessories  were  supplied  by  the  Hos 
pital  Department,  and  the  ladies  in  camp,  with 
much  taste  and  ingenuity  in  arrangement  and  dec 
oration  of  the  stockade  dining  barracks  or  "  mess 
hall ",  produced  a  really  fine  display,  and  gave  to 
the  ever  unsatisfied  convalescent  soldier  "  a  good 
square  meal ". 

Meanwhile,  though  with  womanly  tact  Annie 
endeavored  to  hide  her  anxiety,  my  sympathy 
soon  discovered  "  the  worm  in  the  bud  "  that  sad- 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  171 

dened  the  eye  and  paled  the  cheek  of  the  fair  girl. 
Something  must  be  done,  and  that  quickly.  A 
bold  thought  came  to  me;  but  extreme  cases  re 
quire  heroic  treatment,  and  after  all  we  can  but 
fail. 

With  assumed  indifference,  breaking  in  upon  one 
of  her  reveries,  I  said,  "Annie,  you  are  unhappy  ". 

"  Why  no,  Miss  Smith,  I  am  very  happy  ",  she 
answered  trying  to  believe  herself  sincere. 

"  Well,  never  mind,  I  know  all  about  it,  Annie, 
and  am  very  sorry  too,  but  mean  to  help  you  if  you 
will  allow  me." 

With  an  expectant  yet  alarmed  glance  she  ex 
claimed:  "  Why,  what  can  you  do?  " 

"  No  matter ;  but  will  you  answer  truly  one  ques 
tion?  In  the  first  place  you  know  it  is  necessary 
for  me  to  start  for  Albany  at  once  to  see  Governor 
Fenton,  and  Mrs.  Painter  is  called  home  on  busi 
ness;  and  you  cannot  be  left  here  alone.  You  are 
distressed  and  unhappy,  and  with  reason;  Bob  can 
not  go  to  Washington,  as  you  well  know,  and  now 
please  answer  without  reserve.  If  Bob  should  wish 
to  marry  you  here,  in  camp,  will  you  consent?  " 

"  Why,  we  could  not  be  married  here,"  she  ex 
claimed. 

"  That  can  be  managed  if  you  will  give  your 
answer." 

"  Well,  yes,  I  would  ",  she  replied  reluctantly, 

But  womanly  delicacy  instantly  repented  and  she 
added,  "  O,  I  would  not  for  the  world  have  Bob 
think  I  am  in  the  least  bit  of  a  hurry." 


172   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

"  Don't  think  of  that!  He  shall  never  know  of 
this  conversation  unless  you  are  willing;  and  you 
will  have  nothing  more  to  do  about  it." 

In  the  course  of  the  next  hour  a  letter  was  writ 
ten  to  Bob,  in  which  her  real  position  was  plainly 
set  forth,  adding  the  very  unpleasant  suggestion, 
that  should  he  fall  in  the  expected  battle,  the  poor 
girl  would  be  doubly  miserable.  And  further,  if, 
after  calm  deliberation,  he  wished  to  place  her 
rightly  in  camp,  and  marry  her  here  in  the  Field 
Hospital,  it  was  only  necessary  to  telegraph  at  once 
and  come  to  City  Point  at  five  P.  M.  to-morrow, 
and  it  should  be  done  with  every  arrangement 
made. 

A  rare  chance  had  brought  to  our  tent  that  day 
an  officer  of  Captain  Eden's  regiment,  by  whom 
the  letter  was  at  once  dispatched.  Little  suspect 
ing  its  importance,  he  delivered  it  at  midnight  to 
his  comrade,  as  he  dreamed  by  his  camp  fire  of  the 
long  deferred  day  when  Annie  should  be  all  his 
own.  Astonishment  and  indignation,  at  the 
thought  of  an  injustice  to  the  brave  girl  who  had 
dared  all  in  her  devotion  to  him,  at  once  cleared 
away  the  mists  of  romance  that  had  surrounded 
his  bright  visions  of  the  future. 

By  the  first  trembling  of  the  morning  wires  came 
the  telegram,  "All  right,  on  the  way  to  City  Point 
on  horseback  ".  This  was  shown  to  Annie,  who 
trembled  with  anxiety  and  mortification  lest  he 
should  think  her  deficient  in  maidenly  reserve ;  but 
we  laughed  away  her  fears  and  said  nothing.  Still 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  173 

I  would  not  take  any  decisive  action  in  this  emer 
gency  until  he  came  and  assured  me  of  his  earnest 
wish.  So  the  morning  wore  slowly  on  until  nearly 
noon,  when  Hannah  "  the  great-eyed  "  stumbled 
into  the  tent,  —  her  usual  manner  of  entering,  — 
saying,  "  Lor,  Miss  Smith,  Mass  Bob  dun  come 
ridin'  way  down  de  road,  ready  to  broke  him  neck  ". 

I  slipped  quietly  out  of  the  tent  as  he  dashed  up 
on  his  fine  horse,  well  flecked  with  foam,  and  pulled 
rein  for  the  first  time  in  fifteen  miles  of  Virginia 
road !  Covered  with  dust,  but  without  a  thought 
of  fatigue,  he  sprang  to  the  ground  and,  with  a 
hearty  grasp  of  my  hand,  exclaimed,  "  Colonel, 
you're  a  trump!  Never  would  have  thought  it 
possible !  "  and  with  a  significant  gesture  he  whis 
pered,  "  Do  you  mean  it?  " 

"  Certainly !  "  was  the  suppressed  reply,  for  tents 
are  all  ears. 

Laughingly  he  continued,  "  Couldn't  get  a  pass 
so  came  without  it.  Ha,  ha!  must  be  back  to 
night  !  " 

"  Well,  there's  no  time  to  lose ;  go  and  persuade 
Annie,  and  be  ready  at  five  P.  M.  sharp.  It  is  now 
nearly  noon,  and  all  is  yet  to  be  done." 

With  a  bound,  Bob  was  by  Annie's  side,  while 
she,  half  alarmed,  was  yet  too  happy  in  his  presence 
to  speak  the  thoughts  that  caused  her  heart  to  leap 
with  a  strange  emotion. 

It  must  have  been  like  some  wild  dream  when  I 
said  "Annie,  Bob  has  something  to  say  to  you 
alone ;  so  for  once  he  may  enter  our  sanctum  ". 


174   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

And  unpinning  the  flap  of  the  little  tent  attached  to 
a  larger  one,  they  disappeared  within. 

Gathering  my  scattered  thoughts,  I  ejaculated, 
"  Let's  see,  what  first?  Ah,  here  comes  Mary 
Blackmar.  I  want  you  to  put  on  your  other  dress 
and  be  here  at  five  P.  M." 

Her  fine  hazel  eyes  dilating  in  wonder,  she  ex 
claimed,  "  What  ails  you,  Colonel?  " 

"  Nothing,  only  we  are  going  to  have  a  wedding 
in  camp,  and  you're  to  be  second  bridesmaid  for 
Annie." 

"  Impossible !  " 

"  Can't  be  helped.  Manage  your  work  some 
how.  You  must  come  just  the  same,  and  Mr.  Peek 
is  to  stand  with  you.  Good-bye,  —  we're  off  for 
the  clergyman.  Remember,  five  P.  M.,  and,  one 
moment,  —  not  a  word  in  camp." 

Meanwhile  Sister  Painter  had  sent  for  her  or 
derly  and  ambulance,  into  which  I  quickly  sprang 
while  she  called  out  with  cheery  significance, 
"  Good  luck !  Good  luck !  "  and  the  impatient  pair 
of  grey  horses  dashed  off  through  camp  to  the 
Cavalry  Corps  Hospital  nearly  a  mile  distant,  to 
secure  the  services  of  Chaplain  Mines,  the  only 
Episcopal  clergyman  in  that  department. 

An  unusually  cold  air  chilled  us  as  we  drove  up 
to  the  tasteful  little  office  of  the  Chaplain.  His 
orderly  saluted,  and  awaited  my  order.  "  Please 
ask  the  Chaplain  to  step  here  as  quickly  as  pos 
sible." 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  175 

To  my  consternation  he  replied  "  Chaplain  Mines 
went  North  this  morning !  " 

Dumbfounded  at  this  news,  and  greatly  dis 
tressed,  I  hardly  knew  what  to  do  next.  The  driver 
was  shivering,  and  evidently  in  doubt  too,  as  he 
asked  "  Where  shall  I  drive  now?  " 

"  To  —  to  —  O,  I  don't  know  —  that  is,  drive 
back." 

What  could  be  done?  Away  we  sped  and  my 
perplexity  increased,  for  I  well  knew  that  none  but 
the  Church  of  England  service  could  give  sanction 
to  this  pair  in  matrimony.  "O,  I  have  it,  drive  to 
the  Christian  Commission." 

In  fifteen  minutes  we  found  Mr.  Houghton,  head 
of  this  commission.  "  Do  you  know ",  I  cried 
breathlessly,  "  you  are  to  be  best  man  at  a  wedding 
this  afternoon,  and  I'm  to  be  first  bridesmaid,  and 
—  well  —  there  is  no  Episcopalian  clergyman  in 
this  camp?  You  must  help  us  out  of  this  dilemma. 
Will  you  not  ask  one  of  your  ministers  to  perform 
the  service  by  the  Episcopal  form?  " 

With  a  twinkle  in  his  keen  gray  eye  he  remarked 
"  I  think  I  shall  order  a  straight  jacket,  and  —  " 

"  Never  mind !  Order  what  you  like,  but  not  a 
word  in  camp,  or  we  shall  have  more  assistance 
than  we  desire.  Though  this  must  not  be  done  in  a 
corner,  yet  one  from  each  post  will  suffice.  If  it 
gets  out  we  might  have  hundreds.  We  ladies  will 
represent  the  States,  Mr.  Peek  the  Sanitary  Com 
mission,  and  you,  Mr.  Houghton,  the  Christian 
Commission,  and  —  at  five  P.  M.  you'll  know  the 


176    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

rest,  for  there  is  yet  much  to  do.  I'm  off  now  for 
General  Patrick." 

Again  we  dashed  off  over  the  rough  frozen  roads, 
this  time  in  the  direction  of  General  Grant's  Head 
quarters,  near  the  James  side  of  the  Point.  The 
day  was  intensely  cold,  and  only  a  guard  was  visi 
ble,  marking  his  frozen  beat.  As  we  approached 
he  called  an  orderly,  who  immediately  appeared 
and  received  the  message  "Ask  General  Patrick  if 
he  can  be  seen  ". 

"  General  Patrick  went  North  yesterday !  " 

"  How  long  will  he  remain?  " 

"  Till  to-morrow  night." 

Match-making  was  becoming  a  doubtful  experi 
ment.  "  Has  everybody  gone  North? "  I  dubi 
ously  inquired. 

The  orderly  suggested  "  The  General's  adjutant, 
Captain  Beckwith  is  here." 

"  Oh,  indeed,  I  don't  know  him  except  by  sight; 
a  young  man  and  good-looking.  If  only  he  wasn't. 
Wonder  what  General  Grant  would  say  if  he  were 
asked !  "  But  a  consideration  of  the  cares  of  that 
overworked  public  servant  saved  him. 

At  last,  in  desperation,  I  said,  "Ask  the  Adjutant 
if  he  will  please  step  here  for  a  moment,"  inwardly 
adding  "  If  we  do  not  perish  with  cold  in  this  at 
tempt,  we  might  hereafter  make  our  headquarters 
at  the  North  Pole !  " 

Captain  Beckwith  came  out  of  the  office  and  po 
litely  waited  my  request.  A  poor  attempt  at  in 
difference  was  not  helped  by  my  hesitating  words 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  177 

—  Captain,  I  —  er  —  I  wish  to  speak  to  you 
privately.  Is  your  office  occupied?  " 

He  replied  gravely  and  politely,  "  There  are 
officers  now  in  my  tent  ". 

"  Well  then,  will  you  please  step  into  the  am 
bulance,  as  it  is  necessary  to  have  your  advice  and 
assistance." 

Apparently  anticipating  a  torpedo,  when  only  a 
flag  of  truce  was  offered,  —  rather  dimly  to  be 
sure,  —  he  cautiously  took  his  seat  without  a  word. 

How  shall  I  quickly  explain?  Why  doesn't  he 
say  something  —  not  a  word  —  one  or  the  other 
must  drop  preliminary  caution,  or  the  words  will 
freeze  on  our  lips.  So  I  blundered  out  "Are  you 
engaged  at  five  P.  M.?  " 

He  replied  that  he  thought  he  was.  Whereupon 
I  told  him  the  whole  story,  and  he  soon  changed  his 
plans. 

"As  General  Patrick  is  away,"  I  said,  "  will  you 
come  and  witness  the  ceremony?  " 

"  But  I'm  afraid  it  " 

"  Nonsense,  Miss  Bain  has  remained  by  permis 
sion  of  General  Patrick.  We  wish  you,  as  his  rep 
resentative,  to  give  your  countenance  and  endorse 
ment  to  the  affair." 

Now  he  was  interested,  and  finally  agreed  to  be 
on  hand.  Away  we  hurried  back  to  the  Christian 
Commission,  and  found  we  had  only  two  hours  left. 

After  returning  from  the  Cavalry  Corps  Hos 
pital  I  found  Bob  within  the  tent  standing  alone 
with  a  gloomy  and  discontented  expression  upon 


178    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

his  face.  I  took  the  alarm  and  said  quickly: 
"  There  is  something  wrong,  Bob.  If  you  are  in 
tending  to  marry  Annie  because  you  think  you 
must,  don't  do  it,  she's  too  good  a  girl  to  be  forced 
upon  any  man  in  that  manner.  Now  is  your  time 
to  retreat.  What  is  the  matter?  " 

With  a  merry  laugh,  Bob  said  soothingly: 
"  There,  there,  Colonel,  you  are  wasting  ammuni 
tion.  Why,  don't  you  know  that  nothing  in  the 
world  could  make  me  so  happy  as  to  marry  the 
dear  girl,  and  if  we  succeed  I  can  never  repay  this 
great  kindness,  so  don't  waste  time  or  thought  on 
that  point !  " 

But  the  cloud  once  more  passed  over  his  face. 
What  did  it  mean?  Half  repenting  the  new  role,  I 
was  hurrying  away,  when  a  neglected  message 
came  to  my  mind,  and  I  called  out,  "  O,  Bob ! 
Major  Baker,  before  going  North,  requested  me  to 
say  he  had  left  forty  dollars  for  you  with  the  sutler 
at  the  Point !  " 

The  cloud  vanished,  as  he  sprang  up  and  ex 
claimed:  "  Did  he?  Bless  his  old  heart!  I  must 
run  down  and  get  it." 

"  Why,  how  delighted  you  seem ;  one  would  think 
it  was  a  fortune." 

"O  no,  —  but  you  see  —  er  well,  it  is  —  all 
right  now." 

The  cloud  was  explained !  How  mortal  we  are ! 
The  poor  fellow  was  "  dead  broke  "  and  of  course 
had  no  fee  for  the  clergyman.  This  seemed  a  small 
matter,  but  for  several  months  that  ever-welcome 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  179 

individual,  the  Pay-master,  had  not  reported  to  the 
consequently  bankrupt  "  front  ",  so  there  was  noth 
ing  to  borrow,  for  as  long  as  a  dollar  remained  in 
camp,  it  was  the  common  property  of  the  "  Boys  ". 

On  the  road  shortly  after,  we  met  Bob  beaming 
as  a  sunflower,  radiant  in  a  brand  new  pair  of  yel 
low  buckskin  gauntlets,  high  cavalry  boots,  freshly 
blacked,  hair  and  beard  barbered,  dust  swept  off 
his  faded  uniform,  and  with  a  clean  paper  collar. 
The  owner  of  this  elegant  wedding  attire  called  out 
merrily  —  "  How  are  you  progressing,  Colonel?  " 

"  Finely,"  was  the  brief  though  hardly  conscien 
tious  reply,  which  was  scarcely  verified  on  reaching 
the  Christian  Commission  again,  when  Mr.  Hough- 
ton  said :  "  I  can  find  no  one  willing  to  perform 
that  ceremony !  " 

Descending  from  the  ambulance  and  passing  into 
the  quarters  occupied  by  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.,  I 
asked  the  former  to  assist  in  giving  away  the  bride, 
which  he  at  once  consented  to  do.  But  the  most 
important  character  was  still  wanting. 

"Ah,  Rev.  G.,  will  you  not  as  a  home  friend 
kindly  perform  this  service?  " 

"  With  pleasure  by  the  Methodist  form,  but  I 
have  conscientious  scruples  about  using  another 
service !  " 

"  Well,  please  send  some  one  else." 

This  one  had  scruples  too.  This  seemed  an 
absurd  prejudice  to  stand  in  the  way  of  so  much 
happiness.  The  fourth  or  fifth  minister  was  "  per 
fectly  willing  "  but  hadn't  the  least  idea  of  an  Epis- 


180   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

copal  service.  Verily  this  was  the  pursuit  of  hap 
piness  under  difficulties.  But  I  rejoiced  then  that 
all  obstacles  seemed  to  be  at  last  overcome.  Grate 
ful  to  this  liberal  Methodist  minister  I  thanked  him 
and  said :  "  If  you  are  willing,  please  wait  a  mo 
ment." 

Running  quickly  to  Mr.  Houghton,  he  soon  found 
a  prayer  book  and  a  key,  —  not  of  the  book  but 
of  the  chapel  door.  How  the  time  flew!  Four 
hours  and  thirty  minutes  gone;  only  twenty-five 
minutes  left!  The  minister  and  I  entered  the 
chapel,  where  I  explained  to  him  the  form  of  the 
Episcopal  service,  and  to  save  time  enacted  the  part 
of  the  groom,  the  bride  and  the  other  necessary 
characters.  Much  delighted  with  this  service,  he 
was  proceeding  finely  when  we  came  to  the  giving 
of  the  ring.  "  Oh,  how  about  the  ring,"  he  asked. 
Here  was  another  dilemma.  Shades  of  the  God 
dess  of  Matrimony!  A  ring!  and  in  camp,  where 
jewelry  was  conspicuous  only  by  its  absence !  My 
only  ring,  a  garnet  cluster,  would  not  serve  for  a 
wedding  ring,  yet  a  ring  must  be  had.  Leaving 
the  reverend  absorbed  in  his  part  I  ran  to  the  tent 
again  and  rushed  in  upon  Bob  and  Annie,  happy 
and  quite  oblivious  of  time,  forgetting  almost  my 
presence,  and  that  it  was  for  their  marriage,  that  I 
had  stirred  up  every  department  in  the  great  hos 
pital  and  the  U.  S.  Headquarters. 

In  a  tone  of  dismay  I  exclaimed :  "  What  shall 
we  do  for  a  ring?  It  is  impossible  to  find  one  in 
this  last  moment." 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  181 

But  to  my  intense  amazement  and  great  relief 
Miss  Bain  in  a  most  matter  of  fact  manner  replied, 
"  Why,  I  have  a  plain  ring  in  my  valise."  This  she 
placed  in  my  hand,  and  I  gave  it  to  Bob,  who  de 
posited  it  safely  for  the  auspicious  moment.  So  I 
sped  happily  away,  calling  back,  "  Be  ready  in  five 
minutes !  " 

And  now  we  must  marshal  our  forces  and  pre 
pare  for  the  silent  wedding  march,  for  which  no 
Mendelssohn  or  Lohengrin  could  give  sweet  music, 
and  which  must  be  under  cover  to  avoid  attracting 
attention.  At  this  moment  an  orderly  hastily  en 
tered  saying,  "  Mr.  A.  is  very  sorry,  but  a  telegram 
has  ordered  him  directly  to  the  Point,  and  Mr.  Peek 
is  nowhere  to  be  found !  " 

"  Perhaps  he  has  taken  a  telegraphic  shock,  too ! " 

"All  the  rest  here?" 

"  Yes ;  but  now,  Captain  Beckwith,  you  must  be 
promoted  to  second  groomsman." 

Ignoring  his  objections  in  this  latest  emergency, 
I  turned  to  Mrs.  Painter,  asking :  "  Will  you  give 
away  the  bride,  thus  standing  for  her  mother?  " 

Equal  to  any  emergency  she  replied :  "  We 
Friends  do  not  understand  thy  services,  but  what 
will  thee  have  me  to  do?  " 

"  There  is  no  time  now  to  study  up,  but  when  the 
Pastor  asks  '  Who  giveth  this  woman  to  be  married 
to  this  man?  '  just  step  forward  and  say,  *  I  do  '." 

There  was  no  danger  of  failure  there.  "  Now 
wait  until  I  run  again  to  the  chapel,  to  see  if  our 


182   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

minister  is  sufficiently  coached,  and  then  let  the 
conquering  victims  come !  " 

The  good  man  was  ready,  and  quite  delighted 
with  the  beautiful  service.  When  we  disagreed 
about  the  positions  to  be  taken,  he  good-naturedly 
allowed  himself  to  be  backed  against  the  rough 
little  pulpit,  and  with  an  expression  of  amused  curi 
osity  prepared  for  the  now  waiting  couple. 

Perhaps  a  dozen  camp  friends  had  quietly  en 
tered  and  seated  themselves  to  witness  the  cere 
mony,  and  all  was  ready.  Hastily  returning  once 
more  to  our  tent,  and  finding  every  one  ready,  and 
fearing  that  our  little  secret  might  be  discovered, 
we  ordered  "  Double  quick  ".  Bob  and  I  went  first 
together,  the  two  groomsmen  and  bridesmaid  en 
tered  from  different  directions.  Sister  Painter 
came  next  with  the  bride,  and  even  in  her  well 
worn,  patched  brown  *  every  day ',  with  travelling 
hat  and  pretty  collar,  she  seemed  quite  beautiful. 
Hannah  covered  the  retreat. 

As  we  arranged  our  little  wedding  procession, 
the  solemnity  of  the  occasion  became  impressive, 
while  the  shades  of  evening  struggled  through  the 
bare  windows  of  the  large  chapel,  and  the  gleam  of 
half  a  dozen  candles  cast  a  glow  over  the  Pastor's 
form  as  he  stood,  book  in  hand,  awaiting  the  first 
sight  of  the  twain,  now  slowly  approaching.  All 
fell,  quietly  and  orderly,  into  position.  And  there, 
far  from  home  and  dear  friends,  in  the  roughly 
boarded,  unplaned,  unpainted  structure  where  "  the 
Boys  in  Blue  "  so  often  gathered  to  hear  the  words 


LOVE  IN  CAMP  183 

of  love  and  truth,  was  solemnly  performed  the 
beautiful  ceremony,  without  a  pause  or  interrup 
tion,  which  joined  two  loving  hearts  as  one  in  holy 
bonds,  never  to  be  severed  on  earth.  "  Whom  God 
hath  joined  together,  let  no  man  put  asunder  ". 

More  than  one  silent  tear  of  thankfulness  fell  as 
the  last  prayer  died  away  on  the  lips  of  the  good 
man,  who  had  so  beautifully  solemnized  this  insti 
tution. 

Night  had  now  fallen  as  all  joyfully  congratu 
lated  the  noble  looking,  happy  pair.  They  walked 
arm  in  arm,  man  and  wife,  back  to  our  tents,  where 
we  quietly  followed,  no  rumor  having  reached  the 
alert  ears  of  the  poor  weary  fellows,  anxious  for  a 
break  in  the  monotony  of  hospital  life. 

The  guests  at  the  reception  in  our  large  tent  con 
sisted  only  of  our  own  little  party,  and  the  refresh 
ments  were  composed  of  a  couple  of  bottles  of  Sis 
ter  Painter's  home-made  wine,  and  a  "  wolverine  " 
cake,  hastily  made  by  Mary  Blackmar's  willing 
hands. 

Rev.  wrote  the  certificate,  and  we  had  a 

merry  time  in  witnessing  it;  while  our  tent  was  il 
luminated  with  two  extra  candles  in  bottles,  and 
the  wind  made  sweet  music  above  our  laughter  on 
the  swaying  canvas  roof.  The  great  black  log 
blazed  brightly,  now  and  then  snapping  out  a  sharp 
shout  of  joy,  and  all  went  merrily  as  the  traditional 
marriage  bell. 

Bob,  of  course,  was  obliged  to  return  at  once  to 
his  regiment;  leaving  his  bride  for  a  day  or  two 


184   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

while  he  cleaned  up  his  regimental  quarters,  and 
obtained  permission  to  go  to  housekeeping  where 
bullets  rained  and  shells  stormed,  and  thither  he 
took  his  happy  bride. 

About  two  weeks  later  came  the  furlough,  and 
the  Major's  commission.  On  my  return  from  my 
interview  with  Governor  Fenton  in  Albany,  I  met 
the  wedded  pair  in  Washington,  going  North, 
where  their  festivities  were  continued  among  their 
friends  with  suitable  formalities. 


NEW  YORK  STATE  AGENCY      185 


CHAPTER  XX 
NEW  YORK  STATE  AGENCY 

QUITE  unknown  to  me,  the  State  Agents  and 
the  two  Commissions  had  formulated  an  ap 
peal  to  have  me  supersede  Mrs.  Spencer, 
then  New  York  State  Agent  in  the  field,  and  urged 
that  I  go  at  once  to  Governor  Fenton  at  Albany  to 
have  it  confirmed.  So  the  day  after  the  wedding  I 
started  for  New  York  on  a  government  transport. 

Mr.  Houghton  was  also  going  North.  The 
rumor  of  a  wedding  had  already  spread  over  camp, 
and  Mr.  Houghton  and  I  were  congratulated  as  the 
happy  couple  on  our  wedding  trip.  This  caused  a 
great  deal  of  merriment. 

Captain  Blackman  of  the  transport,  was  very 
kind  and  made  the  trip  on  the  shabby  boat  quite 
pleasant.  My  little  cabin  was  suffocating  at  night, 
and  I  left  my  door  open  with  a  light  burning  in  the 
narrow  passage-way,  while  the  engineer  and  his 
wife  slept  opposite.  Quite  exhausted  with  prepa 
rations  for  the  wedding  and  for  my  trip  North,  I 
fell  into  a  heavy  sleep.  Some  time  during  the  night 
I  was  awakened  by  heavy  hands  passing  up  and 
down  my  body.  I  awoke  in  total  darkness,  and 
was  too  dazed  at  first  to  comprehend  the  situation, 
but  at  last  I  managed  to  exclaim  "  Who  are  you, 
and  what  do  you  want?  " 


186    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

A  coarse  voice,  in  broken  English,  said,  "  I  want 
a  place  to  sleep !  " 

I  called  for  a  light  and  help,  when  in  a  very  calm 
manner  the  intruder  said :  "  O,  don't  put  yourself 
in  a  stew !  "  On  his  hastily  retreating  footsteps  I 
quickly  closed  and  locked  the  door.  The  engineer 
had  doubtless  extinguished  the  light  in  the  passage 
before  he  closed  their  door. 

The  next  day  we  stopped  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
and  were  allowed  to  examine  the  interior  of  the 
Fort,  and  that  great  mounted  black  gun  called 
"  The  Swamp  Angel "  which  was  reputed  to  throw 
a  shot  of  four  hundred  pounds ! 

In  Washington  we  met  our  old  friend  Major 
Baker ;  and  when  we  walked  up  Pennsylvania  Ave 
nue  toward  the  Capitol  we  saw  the  effect  of  an 
unusual  freak  of  the  wind.  A  large  flag  was  flying 
at  the  top  from  either  wing  of  the  great  building 
and  both  flags  blew  in  towards  each  other,  standing 
out  immovable  without  a  fold  as  if  held  by  some 
material  background.  The  effect  was  peculiar. 

But  I  spent  little  time  sight-seeing,  and  took  the 
afternoon  train  for  New  York. 

Upon  arriving  at  my  home  in  Bedford  Avenue, 
Brooklyn,  there  were  many  matters  to  attend  to, 
and  I  had  little  time  to  spend  with  my  family.  I 
then  started  for  Albany.  At  Troy  we  crossed  the 
river  in  a  sleigh  on  thick  ice.  I  had  been  invited 
to  stop  at  the  home  of  my  former  patient  John  C. 
Guffin,  where  I  met  his  father,  mother  and  brother. 
The  parents  reminded  me  of  Abraham  and  Sarah. 


NEW  YORK  STATE  AGENCY  187 

They  seemed  to  have  dropped  out  of  the  Old  Testa 
ment,  as  they  talked  in  Scripture  language  quite 
difficult  for  me  to  understand. 

The  hilly  streets  of  Albany  were  covered  with 
ice,  and  although  a  natural  climber,  I  could  not  keep 
my  footing,  and  so  I  simply  sat  down  and  slid  to 
the  bottom  of  those  hills.  Governor  Fenton  was 
away  when  I  arrived,  and  I  was  obliged  to  remain 
three  days  waiting  for  him.  During  this  time  these 
hospitable  patriarchs  gave  me,  three  times  a  day, 
only  buckwheat  cakes  and  tea,  which  peculiar  diet 
caused  a  severe  headache.  I  was  very  glad  when  I 
could  get  away.  I  never  experienced  such  cold  as 
during  that  visit. 

Governor  Fenton  was  very  courteous,  and,  after 
examining  the  appeal  made  by  all  the  State  Agen 
cies,  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions,  he 
soon  granted  the  request  and  gave  me  the  Com 
mission  of  New  York  State  agent,  with  directions 
to  report  to  Mr.  Morgan,  head  of  New  York  State  , 
Agency  in  Washington. 

On  my  return  to  Washington  I  met  Mr.  Morgan, 
and  received  from  him  the  following  commission: 

"  New  York  State  Agency, 

181  Pennsylvania  Avenue, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  February  22,  1865. 
Colonel  T.  S.  Bowers, 

A.  A.  G.  Armies,  United  States. 
Sir: 

Miss  Ada  W.  Smith  has  been  appointed  agent  of 
the  State  of  New  York  for  the  relief  of  her  soldiers. 


188   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

I  respectfully  commend  her  to  your  kind  considera 
tion,  assuring  you  that  every  facility  given  her  for 
carrying  out  the  object  of  her  mission  will  be  appreci 
ated. 

Very  truly, 

D.  G.  MORGAN, 
Supt.  N.  Y.  S.  Military  Agency." 

Mr.  Morgan  directed  me  to  report  to  City  Point 
and  to  relieve  Mrs.  Spencer. 

On  my  return  to  City  Point  I  met  Major  and 
Mrs.  Eden.  Having  received  his  promotion  and  a 
furlough,  they  were  on  their  wedding  trip  North. 
I  was  glad  to  return  to  City  Point  camp  life  and 
duty,  with  congratulations  on  all  sides.  The  next 
day,  with  an  ambulance  and  a  friend,  I  went  to  Mrs. 
Spencer's  quarters  and  showed  her  my  commission, 
saying,  "  I  would  like  to  take  possession  in  a  few 
days  ". 

Mrs.  Spencer  had  been  charged  with  partiality 
to  McClellan  men,  and  refusing  Republican  soldiers 
tobacco,  etc.  Politics,  even  in  the  army,  caused 
many  somersaults,  and  were  quite  beyond  my  man 
agement;  and  through  some  strategy  my  commis 
sion  was  revoked  at  City  Point,  though  I  retained 
the  commission  as  New  York  agent  in  general! 

There  were  then  some  indications  of  the  collapse 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  that  when  this  frightful 
war  was  over  the  agencies  would  also  collapse. 
However,  I  kept  on  working  in  the  old  way,  while 
my  indignant  Republican  friends  threatened,  and 
tried  to  storm  the  New  York  State  Agency.  Poli 
tics  ran  high  and  many  lost  their  heads  politically. 


NEW  YORK  STATE  AGENCY  189 

Many  convalescent  copperheads  and  Democrats, 
enlisted  men,  were  allowed  to  go  home  to  vote  for 
president. 

Doctor  Painter,  a  strong  Republican,  incurred 
the  displeasure  of  General  Patrick,  a  Democrat,  by 
some  manipulations  which  enabled  her  to  get 
enough  passes  for  Jersey  soldiers  to  go  home  to 
vote  and  so  balance  the  Democratic  vote. 

Many  one-armed  and  one-legged  men  were  mov 
ing  about  camp,  waiting  orders  to  report  to  Wash 
ington,  where  the  Government  would  supply  them 
with  artificial  limbs  and  discharge  them.  It  was 
surprising  how  many  were  well  fitted  with  these 
limbs,  and  that  many  could  walk  so  well  that  only  a 
slight  limp  betrayed  them ;  while  others  with  neatly 
gloved  hands,  which  they  could  sometimes  use 
quite  well,  were  seldom  observed  in  passing. 

A  young  lieutenant  from  Maine,  had  lost  a  leg, 
and  was  lying,  weary  and  helpless,  on  his  hospital 
cot.  He  had  written,  as  had  many  another  poor 
fellow  crippled  for  life,  to  his  fiancee,  offering  to 
resign  his  claim,  and  he  was  now  feverishly  await 
ing  her  reply.  Day  after  day  passed,  and  still  no 
answer,  while  we  tried  every  device  to  encourage 
him.  He  said  "  I  know  how  it  will  be !  "  He  be 
came  bitter  and  scornful  and  made  no  effort  to  live. 
While  it  was  scarcely  possible  in  any  case  that  he 
could  recover  from  this  usually  fatal  thigh  fracture, 
we  still  hoped  that  he  might  at  least  receive  some 
word  of  comfort  before  he  died. 

I  seldom  went  into  the  wards  after  nightfall,  but 


190   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

the  dying  boy  sent  for  me  quite  late  one  night. 
Hoping  that  some  kind  word  had  come  at  last,  I 
hastened  to  his  side.  None  had  come  and,  con 
scious  that  his  life  was  fast  ebbing  away,  he  had 
only  bitterness  for  his  former  sweetheart  and  died 
with  these  cruel  thoughts. 

I  wrote  his  friend,  simply  announcing  his  death; 
but  a  few  days  later  came  her  reply,  full  of  grief. 
She  had  received  no  letter,  nor  knew  anything  of 
his  wounds.  They  had  been  friends  from  child 
hood  and  she  could  not  believe  she  would  never  see 
him  again.  "  Had  he  not  mentioned  her  or  left 
some  word?  "  My  reply  was  the  saddest  and  most 
difficult  of  all  sad  letters,  for  —  "  It  might  have 
been  ".  I  tried  to  think  of  some  word  which  he 
had  dropped  which  might  be  happily  construed, 
and  I  certainly  strained  a  point  to  give  this  poor 
heart-stricken  girl  some  little  comfort  to  remember 
from  the  boy  lover  of  her  childhood. 

A  few  days  later  his  comrades  carried  him  to  a 
mournful  tune  of  fife  and  drum,  and  fired  a  last 
salute  over  his  lonely  grave. 

"  Of  all  sad  words  of  tongue  or  pen, 
The  saddest  are  these,  it  might  have  been." 


A  HOUSE  MOVING  191 

CHAPTER  XXI 
A  HOUSE  MOVING 

GENERAL  COLLIS,  then  in  command  of  the 
colored  brigade  at  the  Point,  on  abandoning 
his  adjutant's  little  frame  house  or  office 
about  fifteen  feet  by  ten,  kindly  gave  it  to  me.  A 
large  army  wagon  on  which  it  was  raised,  for  re 
moval,  supported  by  a  squad  of  soldiers  on  either 
side,  and  hauled  by  six  mules,  made  quite  an  im 
pression  coming  up  Agency  Row,  especially  as  it 
carried  away  the  telegraph  wires  over  the  road. 
One  of  our  large  tents  was  moved  to  give  it  space, 
and  the  real  door  and  little  glass  window  in  it  made 
us  quite  the  envy  of  the  Row.  It  was  divided  into 
two  rooms,  having  a  tent  roof.  The  front  room 
was  for  business  purposes.  The  smaller,  which 
had  a  window  about  a  foot  square,  was  large 
enough  only  for  a  bunk  with  a  straw  bed,  a  packing 
box  for  a  dresser,  a  hand  glass  and  a  barrel  chair, 
and  so  New  York  was  added  to  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  Agencies. 

This  recalls  a  night  incident  somewhat  later, 
when  Mrs.  Painter  and  I  were  sleeping  in  the  bunk. 
I  was  startled  by  Mrs.  Painter  springing  up  on  to 
the  dresser  and  screaming  loudly,  "  Murder ! 
Thieves !  Help !  "  almost  in  the  face  of  a  scamp 
at  the  window,  who  was  evidently  trying  to  reach 
the  wines  hidden  under  the  dresser.  Mrs.  Painter 
was  a  very  small  woman  of  the  old  time  Quaker 
stamp,  and  she  wore  a  little  white  night  cap,  and 


192   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

the  proverbial  short  gown  and  petticoat.  As  the 
poor  fellow  took  to  his  heels  and  the  neighbouring 
tents  were  aroused,  I  could  only  lie  still  and  laugh 
at  the  ludicrous  scene.  He  lost  a  great  army  shoe 
which  rested  conspicuously  on  a  rise  of  ground, 
quite  distant. 

Another  amusing  incident  comes  to  my  mind  in 
connection  with  my  little  house.  One  night  there 
came  a  thundering  knock  on  the  door,  on  which 
remained  the  word  "  Adjutant ".  On  opening  I 
found  a  soldier  standing  at  attention  and  more  than 
"  half-seas-over  ",  so  that  he  could  not  distinguish 
a  woman  from  an  officer.  He  had  been  on  fur 
lough,  and  insisted  on  my  taking  his  pass,  but  at 
last  I  succeeded  in  starting  him  for  the  proper 
office. 

An  incident  occurs  to  me  of  a  New  York  news 
paper  reporter  who  was  invited  to  the  mess  of  Gen 
eral  Grant  and  staff.  While  drinking  was  more 
common  than  now,  no  one  so  far  forgot  himself  as 
to  become  intoxicated  in  the  presence  of  the  Gen 
eral,  whose  self-control  and  rigid  discipline  all  re 
spected.  But  this  man  so  demeaned  himself  as  to 
"  get  under  the  table ",  and  the  officers  present 
were  excited  to  the  utmost  contempt  and  indig 
nation  at  this  breach  of  etiquette  in  the  presence  of 
the  commander  of  the  United  States  Armies.  If 
intoxication  had  been  common  at  Headquarters, 
camp  gossip  would  certainly  have  travelled  the  half 
mile  to  the  state  agencies  and  brought  us  news  of 
it.  General  Grant,  however,  was  unhappily  ad- 


A  HOUSE  MOVING  193 

dieted  to  the  excessive  use  of  tobacco,  which 
eventually  caused  him  much  suffering,  and,  later, 
his  life. 

MISS  JONES,  OF  PHILADELPHIA 
How  few,  even  of  the  army  veterans,  remember 
the  sacrifices  of  the  "  Women  of  the  War  "  in  hos 
pitals,  homes  and  elsewhere!  In  the  many  G.  A. 
R.  annual  Memorial  services  held  since  the  war, 
when  they  are  received  in  churches  to  hear  their 
heroic  deeds  extolled,  never  have  I  heard  a  chaplain 
or  minister  give  a  thought  of  the  women  workers, 
by  whose  faithful  care  many  of  these  brave  soldiers 
were  nursed  back  to  life,  and  restored  to  their 
anxious  families  and  to  the  country. 

Miss  Jones,  of  Philadelphia,  was  one  of  these 
rare,  forgotten  workers.  Accomplished,  refined, 
though  delicate,  she  left  her  luxurious  home  with 
its  order  and  comforts,  to  give  her  time,  strength 
and  means  to  the  principles  of  national  liberty,  in 
bred  into  the  life  of  every  citizen  of  Philadelphia 
by  the  frequent  sight  of  the  old  cradle  of  the 
American  flag,  the  little  home  of  Betsey  Ross, 
where,  under  the  direction  of  General  Washington, 
Lafayette  and  others  —  she  sewed  into  the  bunt 
ing  the  thirteen  stars  and  stripes  of  our  national 
emblem.  A  million  subscribers,  at  ten  cents  each, 
have  enabled  the  Association  to  make  it  a  national 
or  State  reservation  in  the  densest  business  section 
of  the  city,  where  it  has  become  a  national  Mecca 
to  thousands  yearly  visiting  the  City  of  Brotherly 
Love. 


194   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Miss  Jones,  on  arriving  at  City  Point  Hospital, 
at  once  took  up  the  rough  camp  life  in  an  army 
tent  with  earth  floor,  —  often  damp  and  wet,  —  a 
little  cot,  an  apology  for  a  table,  barrel  chairs,  the 
usual  chimney  built  roughly  of  logs  and  mud  with 
barrel  top,  the  plain  and  sometimes  distasteful  food, 
and  the  atmosphere  of  the  sick  wards.  Here,  how 
ever,  she  worked  for  many  weeks  in  that  enthusi 
astic  ardor  which  inspired  her  kindly  heart,  feeling 
that  she  was  giving  help,  comfort,  and  perhaps  life, 
to  the  sick  who  came  under  her  care. 

Thoughtless  of  self,  and  with  failing  strength, 
she  continued  to  work  ceaselessly,  till,  contracting 
typhoid  fever,  she  collapsed  quite  suddenly,  but 
still  hoped  that  rest  in  the  bare  lonely  tent  might 
restore  her  to  her  hospital  work. 

I  had  been  too  much  occupied  with  my  sick  Boys 
even  to  see  Miss  Jones,  though  much  interested  in 
her,  having  lived  near  her  in  Philadelphia  some 
years  before  the  war;  and  the  sad  news  came  with 
a  shock  that  this  frail,  devoted  soul  had  sacrificed 
her  life  to  her  country  and  died  in  the  field,  like 
many  a  true  soldier  and  patriot,  far  from  friends 
and  the  home  where  every  tender  luxury  was  await 
ing  her. 

Doctor  Painter  and  I  volunteered  to  sit  beside 
her  slight  form  during  the  night,  which  was  in 
tensely  cold,  while  a  full  moon  shed  its  silvery  rays 
over  the  phantom  of  midnight  silence  in  camp,  and 
glittered  like  rare  crystals  on  the  pure  white  snow 
that  seemed  to  reach  the  distant  horizon,  whence 


A  HOUSE  MOVING  195 

the  brilliant  stars  looked  down  in  love  and  pity. 
Mrs.  Painter  and  I  sat  on  rough  chairs  with  our 
feet  on  logs,  while  the  fire  logs  in  the  crude  chim 
ney  burned  brightly.  Mrs.  Painter,  who  had  been 
among  the  first  women  to  reach  the  front,  mean 
while  told  me  many  a  tale  of  her  strange  experi 
ences  when  system  had  not  reached  the  improvised 
temporary  hospital  tents,  where  many  suffered  for 
help  and  nourishment  then  unattainable.  So  the 
night  passed,  while  the  moaning  wind  sang  "  Rest, 
sweet  soul  ",  often  slightly  swaying  the  white  sheet 
that  covered  the  pallid  body.  More  than  once  we 
started  quickly  to  the  seeming  motion  of  life, 
hoping  it  might  be  real,  but  the  pure  spirit  had 
passed  on,  while  the  frail  body  rested  with  a  pleas 
ant  smile,  calmly,  as  if  tended  by  the  friends  of 
home  and  the  formalities  of  a  last  funeral  service 
for  the  dead. 

Her  brother,  Horatio,  came  for  the  body,  and  at 
last  it  was  laid  away  among  her  ancestors  in  the 
family  lot  near  Philadelphia. 

Recognition  of  her  services  has  been  given  in 
Philadelphia  by  the  naming  of  one  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Posts  "  the  Hetty  Jones  Post ". 

The  only  other  post  that  I  have  ever  heard  of 
named  after  a  woman  is  the  Betsey  Ross  Post,  also 
of  Philadelphia. 

From  Harper's  Weekly 

Saturday  April  30th,  1864 

(By  Private  Miles  O'Reilly) 

Gen.  Chas.  Halpin. 


196    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Three  years  ago  to-day 

We  raised  our  hands  to  heaven, 
And  on  the  rolls  of  muster 

Our  names  were  thirty-seven ; 
There  were  just  a  thousand  bayonets, 

And  the  swords  were  thirty-seven, 
As  we  took  the  oath  of  service 

With  our  right  hands  raised  to  heaven. 
Oh,  'twas  a  gallant  day, 

In  memory  still  adored, 
That  day  of  our  sun-bright  nuptials 

With  the  musket  and  the  sword! 
Shrill  rang  the  fifes,  the  bugles  blared, 

And  beneath  a  cloudless  heaven 
Twinkled  a  thousand  bayonets, 

And  the  swords  were  thirty-seven. 
Of  the  thousand  stalwart  bayonets 

Two  hundred  march  to-day; 
Hundreds  lie  in  Virginia  swamps, 

And  hundreds  in  Maryland  clay; 
And  other  hundreds,  less  happy,  drag 

Their  shattered  limbs  around, 
And  envy  the  deep,  long,  blessed  sleep 

Of  the  battle-field's  holy  ground. 
For  the  swords  —  one  night,  a  week  ago, 

The  remnant,  just  eleven, 
Gathered  around  a  banqueting  board 

With  seats  for  thirty-seven ; 
There  were  two  limped  in  on  crutches, 

And  two  had  each  but  a  hand 
To  pour  the  wine  and  raise  the  cup 

As  we  toasted  "  Our  flag  and  land !  " 
And  the  room  seemed  filled  with  whispers 

As  we  looked  at  the  vacant  seats, 
And,  with  choking  throats,  we  pushed  aside 

The  rich  but  untasted  meats; 
Then  in  silence  we  brimmed  our  glasses, 

As  we  rose  up  —  just  eleven, 
And  bowed  as  we  drank  to  the  loved  and  the  dead 

Who  had  made  us  thirty-seven ! 


CONFEDERATE  PRISONERS  PARADE     197 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  LAST  PARADE  OF  CONFEDERATE 
PRISONERS 

"  I  am  quite  confident  that  Love  was  the  only  rope 
thrown  out  to  us  by  Heaven  when  we  fell  overboard 
into  life."  —  Sidney  Lanier.* 

GENERAL  GRANT  had  ordered  a  grand  at 
tack  all  along  the  lines  from  Appomattox  to 
Hatches  Run.     This  was  the  fateful  move 
that  crushed  the  Confederate  Army,  and  opened  the 
way  to  Petersburg  and  Richmond  on  April  3d. 

The  paroled  and  surrendered  Confederate  prison 
ers  were  at  once  marched  forward  from  Petersburg 
on  the  road  beside  the  hospital.  It  was  a  strange, 
sad  sight,  this  long  line  of  Confederate  prisoners, 
3,000  strong,  officers  and  men  without  arms,  — 
some  by  habit  reaching  for  the  forfeited  sword, 
belt,  or  gun,  —  worn,  tired,  begrimed  figures  of 


"  Sidney  Lanier,  later  musician,  poet,  writer,  on  the 
secession  of  Georgia  at  once  enlisted  in  the  Confederate 
infantry  and  served  through  the  war  except  while  a 
prisoner  at  Point  Lookout.  He  afterwards  rejoiced  in 
the  overthrow  of  slavery;  and  knew  that  it  was  belief 
in  the  soundness  and  greatness  of  the  American  Union, 
among  the  millions  of  the  North  and  the  great  North 
West  that  really  conquered  the  South.  He  said  "  As 
soon  as  Lee  invaded  the  North  and  arrayed  the  senti 
ment  against  us  our  swift  destruction  followed  ".  — 
Edward  Mims. 


198    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

despair.  They  were  clothed  in  every  degree  of 
shabbiness,  from  the  dulled  tinsel  of  the  uniformed 
officers,  to  the  worn,  faded,  ragged  grey  that  they 
had  so  confidently  donned  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war.  They  were  on  their  way  to  City  Point  under 
guard,  many  to  be  forwarded  to  some  Northern 
camp,  where  at  least  their  starving  bodies  would  be 
fed  and  made  comfortable. 

There  was  no  sound  of  exultation  over  the  con 
quered  enemy  among  the  Northern  men  and 
women  standing  quietly  near  to  see  them  pass. 
Some  even  saluted  the  defeated  Confederate 
officers.  None  showed  the  slightest  disrespect  to 
those  unfortunates  who  had  not  only  lost,  in  a 
futile  war  against  their  own  nation,  the  "  Flower 
of  their  Chivalry  ",  but  their  broad  acres  were  de 
vastated  and  had  become  battle  fields  of  frightful 
carnage  and  struggle,  and  their  homes  were  also 
wrecked,  leaving  many  without  shelter,  and  thus 
depriving  hundreds  of  any  present  means  of  sup 
port.  As  they  marched  slowly  by,  in  painful  silent 
dejection,  did  they  realize  the  folly  of  an  ill-advised 
rebellion,  to  which  they  had  sacrificed  lives,  homes 
and  sustenance  to  an  illogical,  unethical  romantic 
ideal? 

Crowds  of  barefoot,  ragged  negroes,  nearly  nude, 
who  had  been  shut  up  for  years  in  Petersburg,  now 
crowded  by  hundreds  along  the  road.  One  ex 
cited  old  woman,  her  head  covered  with  a  faded 
bandana,  exclaimed :  "  Lor,  dere  goes  ole  Mars,  I 
knows  him  shore.  Can't  tech  me  now.  I'se  a  free 


CONFEDERATE  PRISONERS  PARADE     199 

nigger."  Another  shouted  to  us,  "  I  knows  you 
alls  Yankee  ladies,  de  Lord  bress  you." 

It  seemed  like  a  funeral  procession,  without  fife 
and  drum,  as  it  wound  slowly  past  the  hospital  to 
City  Point  United  States  Headquarters,  there  to 
take  their  parole. 

About  this  time,  at  City  Point,  I  saw  General 
Custer,  who  lost  his  life  soon  after  in  the  Indian 
raids.  He  was  a  small,  spare,  nervous  man,  wear 
ing  a  scarlet-lined  cape  thrown  over  his  shoulder, 
and  his  long  light  hair  floated  back,  making  a 
striking  picture  of  a  cavalryman  as  his  spirited 
horse  dashed  from  one  headquarters  to  another. 


200   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
OUR  FIRST   SIGHT  OF  PETERSBURG 

THE  advance  on  Petersburg  occurred  on 
April  2d,  1865.  It  was  about  3.30  A.  M. 
when  our  troops  entered  the  city,  and  all 
were  anxious  to  see  the  city  so  long  besieged  and 
coveted. 

Two  days  later,  on  the  4th,  a  party  of  about 
twenty-five  officers  and  ladies  of  the  hospital,  some 
well  mounted,  some  in  ambulances,  started  in  high 
exultation  for  the  conquered  city.  I  was  happy  in 
being  mounted  on  a  beautiful  white  horse,  with  a 
crimson  saddle  cloth,  loaned  from  United  States 
Headquarters.  I  wore  a  dark  blue  habit  with  in 
fantry  buttons,  a  fatigue  cap  with  chin  strap,  riding 
gloves,  and  carried  a  small  whip.  The  horse  acted 
as  if  trained  for  a  circus,  full  of  antics  as  a  pet  dog. 
In  defiance  of  rein  and  whip  he  walked  on  every 
stray  log,  into  ditches,  or  puddles  of  water  in  the 
road,  first  raising  his  haunches  to  feel  if  I  were  firm 
in  the  saddle,  and  travelled  with  a  "  lope  "  as  easy 
as  a  rocking  chair,  so  that  after  twenty-five  miles  I 
was  not  in  the  least  tired. 

We  rode  over  the  fields  of  the  last  skirmish,  torn 
ground,  destroyed  entrenchments,  the  "  Cheveaux 
de  frieze  ",  broken  and  scattered  among  clothing, 
canteens  and  the  general  debris  of  a  battle-field. 
At  the  outskirts  of  the  city  we  saw  great  "  gopher 


FIRST  SIGHT  OF  PETERSBURG 


201 


holes  "  dug  in  the  sides  of  hills,  where  the  inhabit 
ants  crowded  daily  to  escape  the  shells  that  were 
constantly  falling  into  the  doomed  city.  In  these 
holes  they  were  safe  until  nightfall,  when  firing 
usually  ceased  and  the  weary  women  and  children 


GENERAL   O.    B.   WILCOX 

returned  to  their  homes  to  sleep  until  another  day. 
Shots  passed  through  many  houses  but  it  was  sur 
prising  that  so  little  had  been  destroyed. 

Having  previously  met  General  O.  B.  Wilcox, 
who  was  then  in  command  of  the  city,  we  rode  to 
his  headquarters,  where  I  introduced  our  party. 


202   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

He  received  us  courteously,  giving  us  a  mounted 
escort,  that  no  trouble  might  ensue  while  we  made 
a  tour  of  the  almost  deserted  city.  The  windows 
were  all  closed,  as  for  some  national  mourning. 
There  was  only  one  foolish  demonstration,  by  some 
young  women  on  a  piazza,  who  made  grimaces  at 
our  handsome  officers,  and  gyrated  their  fingers  at 
them  in  a  most  remarkable  manner.  I  was  sorry 
and  indignant  for  this  petty  spite,  but  our  brave 
men  merely  smiled  without  comment. 

The  houses  were  generally  detached,  small  and 
shabby,  showing  little  to  interest  beside  occasional 
marks  made  by  stray  shot.  While  riding  through 
the  town  we  saw  an  old  gentleman  weeding  his 
garden,  and  I  made  the  excuse  of  asking  for  a  glass 
of  water,  which  was  politely  given.  I  said  to  him, 
"  You  appear  to  be  taking  things  very  quietly." 

In  his  strong  Southern  accent,  he  replied :  "  Oh 
yes;  you  uns  have  us  beaten,  and  we  might  as  well 
make  the  best  of  it  and  go  to  work." 

During  this  memorable  day  in  Petersburg  we  had 
visited  our  old  friend  Bob  Eden,  who  became  editor 
of  the  Petersburg  Progress,  a  Confederate  paper, 
immediately  after  the  occupation  of  the  city;  and 
he,  like  his  comrades,  was  wild  with  joy  at  the  turn 
of  things,  political  and  national. 

The  following  from  "  Grant's "  Petersburg 
Progress  appeared  the  day  after  our  visit.  The 
paper  is  still  in  my  possession,  but  it  has  nearly 
fallen  in  pieces.  There  was  no  supply  of  printer's 
blank  paper,  and  the  Confederates  had  been  obliged 


FIRST  SIGHT  OF  PETERSBURG          203 

to  use  one  side  of  wall  paper,  or  anything  else  that 
would  hold  print. 

"  Grant's  Petersburg  Progress, 

Petersburg,  Va.,  1865,  April  4th. 

Vol.  1  No.  2 

Proprietors:   Major   R.   C.   Eden,   Captain   C.   H.   Mc- 
Creary. 

"  Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  peace,  (and  ten 
cents  for  our  paper.)  " 

I  copy  from  one  column  the  following  significant 
advertisements : 

"NOTICE" 

"  All  persons  destitute  of  provision  will  apply  as  fol 
lows  :  In  West  Ward,  to  W.  L.  Lancaster,  East  Ward, 
to  W.  L.  Lancaster,  Central  Ward,  to  W.  L.  Lancaster, 
South  Ward,  to  W.  L.  Lancaster." 

Surely  there  was  little  animosity  when  our  troops 
cheerfully  offered  food  and  sustenance  to  the  desti 
tute,  starving  whites,  as  well  as  to  the  helpless 
negroes. 

"AUCTION   SALES" 

"  To  be  sold  cheap  (if  not  badly  sold  already)  all 
that  singularly  ineligible  worthless  property,  known  as 
the  Southern  Confederacy;  for  particulars  apply  to 
Jefferson  Davis.  N.  B.  Liberal  terms  to  agents  of 
Maximilian,  Louis  Napoleon  or  Victoria." 

In  this  same  crude  issue  appears  the  following, 
probably  the  last  notice  of  a  sale  of  slaves  that  ever 
disgraced  our  nominally  free  country;  now  happily 
the  home  of  freedom  in  very  truth,  though  so  long 


204   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

permitting,  in  the  face  of  our  boasted  freedom,  the 
sale  of  human  beings. 

"  I  will  sell  to  the  highest  bidder,  for  cash,  at  Noto- 
way  Court  House,  on  Thursday,  the  sixth  day  of  April, 
next  Court  day,  ten  negroes  belonging  to  the  estate  cf 
Uriah  Lipscomb,  deceased.  P.  A.  Lipscomb, 

Com.  Co.  Court  Notoway." 

"  Editorial  Comment  —  The  above  sale  is  post 
poned  indefinitely;  a  different  disposition  of  the  prop 
erty  having  been  made  by  Mr.  A.  Lincoln,  of  the  White 
House,  Washington,  D.  C." 

"  Lady  visitors :  Our  sanctum  was  yesterday  graced 
by  several  ladies,  and  all  of  them  loyal  and  of  strong 
Union  principles.  The  party  composed  cf  Miss  H.  P. 
(high  private)  Smith,  Agent  from  New  York  State, 
Mrs.  Colonel  Logan,  Mrs.  Sample,  Delaware  Agent, 
and  Mrs.  Huron,  Indiana  Agent.  Their  presence  was 
very  acceptable,  and  did  much  to  soothe  and  comfort 
us  in  our  labor.  They  were  under  escort  of  Messers. 
Clark,  Peek  and  Brown,  of  the  Sanitary  Commission." 

"  THE  TWO  MINNIES  " 

By  A  Rebel  Soldier 

(Suggested  by  a  letter  from  Minnie,  saying  that  she 
prayed  daily  that  the  "  Minnie  "  balls  might  spare  me.) 

"  There  is  a  Minnie  that  I  love, 
And  a  "  Minnie  "  that  I  fear, 
But  the  former  is  now  absent, 
And  the  latter  oft  too  near. 
But  the  Minnie  prays  for  me  each  day 
That  to  "  Minnie  "  I'll  not  fall  a  prey. 

"  The  voice  of  one  is  soft  and  sweet 
The  other  harsh  and  shrill  — 
One  only  speaks  to  bless  mankind 
The  other  but  to  kill. 
And  while  Minnie  prays  for  me  each  day 
Yankee  "  Minnies  "  seek  me  for  a  prey. 


FIRST  SIGHT  OF  PETERSBURG          205 

"  And  when  this  sad  war  is  over, 
Our  independence  won, 
I'll  bid  adieu  to  Yankee  "  Minn  " 
And  seek  the  other  one. 
And  together  render  thanks  each  day 
That  to  Yankee  "  Minns  "  I  never  fell  a  prey." 

To  see  the  victorious  veterans  of  the  Army  re 
turning  and  marching  through  Petersburg  was  a 
never-to-be-forgotten  sight.  As  we  sat,  mounted, 
at  the  corner  of  a  street,  they  marched  by  with  easy 
swinging  tramp,  by  hundreds  and  thousands,  dust- 
begrimed,  in  faded  threadbare  blue  uniforms  that 
they  had  worn  through  many  a  bloody  battle,  and 
in  which  they  had  slept  many  nights,  often  in 
swamps,  and  mud  on  the  battle-fields.  The  shabby 
knapsacks,  battered  canteens,  ragged  blankets, 
their  well-polished  old  guns,  the  only  fresh  clean 
emblem  in  sight;  and  these  for  the  most  part  were 
shouldered  as  if  for  a  holiday,  which  in  very  truth 
it  was,  probably  the  happiest  they  ever  enjoyed. 
Discipline  of  the  tired  host  was  quite  forgotten, 
while  the  worn,  faded,  torn  flags  floated  out 
proudly. 

The  Eighth  Wisconsin  Infantry  had  some  time 
before  sent  home  their  mascot  "  Old  Abe  ",  the  hero 
of  twenty  battles  and  many  skirmishes.  This  eagle 
was  taken  from  its  nest  by  an  Indian  and  presented 
to  Company  C.,  where  it  became  the  pet  of  the  regi 
ment.  During  attacks  he  was  carried  at  the  front 
on  a  standard,  near  the  flag,  —  sometimes  held  by 
a  long  cord  or  chain,  —  he  would  rise  up  flapping 
his  great  wings,  and  screeching  defiance  at  the 


206    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

enemy  loudly  enough  to  be  heard  along  the  line. 
His  reputation  made  thousands  of  dollars  at  fairs 
and  elsewhere.  His  portrait  was  painted,  and 
hangs  in  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston.  The 
State  pensioned  Old  Abe  and  supported  an  attend 
ant  to  care  for  him.  He  died  at  last  of  old  age,  and 
his  skin  is  stuffed  and  safely  preserved  in  the  state 
archives  at  Madison,  Wisconsin. 

As  these  men  tramped  to  the  music  of  the  shrill 
fife  and  drum,  that  knew  no  rest  that  day,  they 
sometimes  joined  in  a  great  chorus,  meanwhile 
cheering  themselves  hoarse,  to  the  tunes  of 
"  Johnny  Came  Marching  Home  ",  "  Yankee  Doo 
dle  ",  and  many  an  army  song. 

When  some  former  patients  recognized  us,  sur 
geons  and  nurses  who  had  cared  for  them,  they 
broke  all  bounds,  and,  with  uncovered  heads, 
dipped  their  tattered  flags  and  fairly  roared  their 
thanks  in  grateful  cheers,  while  we  waved  our  caps 
and  handkerchiefs  in  return  and  also  cheered.  The 
magnetism  of  a  home-going  victorious  army  spread 
like  a  prairie  fire,  not  only  from  regiment  to  regi 
ment,  but  extended  to  every  individual  in  their 
presence,  while  a  roar  as  if  of  ocean  waves  spread 
over  the  sea  of  happy  men  and  women. 

This  was  a  day  of  great  rejoicing  and  enthusiasm 
among  soldiers  and  Northerners,  never  to  be  for 
gotten.  Taking  leave  of  our  polite  escort,  and 
thanking  General  Wilcox  for  his  kindness,  the 
mounted  party  took  a  spirited  gallop  back  to  hos 
pital  camp. 


FIRST  SIGHT  OF  PETERSBURG          207 

Strict  hospital  discipline  was  relaxed  and  the  men 
were  singing  "  Home,  Sweet  Home ",  "  Yankee 
Doodle",  "John  Brown's  Body",  "  Marching 
Through  Georgia ",  and  many  other  patriotic 
songs,  enjoying  them  equally,  until  taps  ordered 
"  Lights  out  ",  when  the  whole  camp  soon  fell  into 
peaceful  dreams  of  home. 

TAPS 

"  Night  draws  her  sable  mantle  on 

And  pins  it  with  a  star." 
Darkness  has  come,  and  rest  is  won 
By  those  who  thro'  the  dusty  way, 
Have  marched  their  long  and  weary  day. 
And  now  the  bugler  from  his  tent 

Across  the  prairies  far, 

Comes  forth  to  blow  the  call. 
By  him  'tis  sent.     The  regiment 
Will  hear  and  know  the  hour  has  come 
For  sleep,  until  the  rising  sun 

Shall  summon  one  and  all. 
Lights  out!     Lights  out!     The  bugle's  clear 

Notes  falling  on  the  air, 
Sound  to  the  ear  now  far,  now  near; 
Now  almost  ceasing,  now  enhanced 
By  echoes  o'er  that  wide  expanse 

Of  prairies  bleak  and  bare. 
Lights  out !     Lights  out !     From  every  lamp 

The  light  is  seen  to  die. 
With  measured  tramp  around  the  camp 
The  sentries  guard  against  their  foes; 
The  rest  are  wrapped  in  sweet  repose 

Beneath  the  starry  sky. 
"  Taps  "  falls  far  sweeter  on  the  air 

Than  any  other  sound. 
Like  opiate  rare,  it  soothes  all  care  — 
To  weary  men  a  blessing  seems  — 
And  pleasant  are  the  soldier's  dreams 


208    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Tho'  stretched  upon  the  ground. 
Ah,  Taps,  thy  mournful  signal  call 

Floats  o'er  a  new-made  grave, 
Thy  soft  notes  fall  where  one  from  all 
Life's  weary  march  forever  rests  — 
Asleep.     Where  wild  birds  build  their  nests, 

Unmindful  of  the  brave. 

John  P.  Force. 

There  were  yet  many  patients,  so  that  our  work 
at  the  hospital  went  on  as  before,  while  waiting  for 
further  orders;  while  all  soon  became  conscious  of 
a  general  relaxation  of  the  imperative  discipline 
that  had  made  our  hospital  a  model  of  general 
courtesy,  neatness,  and  order. 


A  VISIT  TO  RICHMOND  209 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

PREPARING  FOR  A  VISIT  TO  RICHMOND,  THE 
CAPITAL  OF  THE  LOST  CONFEDERACY 

"  In  giving  freedom  to  the  slave  we  assure  freedom 
to  the  free."  —  Abraham  Lincoln. 

A  FEW  days  after  the  evacuation  and  capture 
of  Richmond,  a  small  party  led  by  Mr.  J. 
Yates  Peek,  of  Brooklyn,  still  superintendent 
of  the  Sanitary  Commission  at  City  Point,  arranged 
to  make  an  early  start  on  the  morning  of  April  i  ith, 
to  see  the  smoking  city.  Everything  must  be  ar 
ranged  over  night,  and  I  planned  so  as  to  jump 
quickly  into  my  clothing,  placing  my  only  pair  of 
good  boots  on  a  near-by  chair,  to  lose  no  time.  But 
in  the  morning,  almost  at  the  last  moment,  the 
boots  were  missing.  When  all  had  joined  in  the 
search,  to  no  effect,  the  mystery  increased. 

We  had  a  boy  orderly,  named  Jack,  who  was 
more  officious  than  useful,  and  often  much  in  the 
way,  and  he  volunteered  in  the  search.  Returning 
to  my  little  room  after  a  moment's  absence,  to  my 
astonishment  I  beheld  the  boy  on  the  floor  with  his 
head  in  my  trunk,  which  he  had  had  the  temerity 
to  unlock.  He  was  rummaging  and  disarranging 
everything  as  if  with  a  pudding  stick.  I  exclaimed : 
"Jack,  what  are  you  doing?  "  in  no  pleasant  tone 
of  voice. 

"  I  thought  the  shoes  might  be  in  the  trunk  ",  he 


210   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

quite  coolly  replied,  "  but  I've  been  through  every 
darned  thing  in  it  and  they  ain't  there." 

Words  were,  at  that  hurried  moment,  quite  in 
adequate.  An  explanation  of  the  loss  of  the  shoes 
came  later.  We  had  removed  a  small  stove  and 
left  the  pipe  hole  open  on  the  side  between  two 
tents,  and  during  the  night  some  ambitious  contra 
band  probably  had  squeezed  into  the  small  space 
between  the  tents,  and  with  a  long  stick  had 
"  gobbled  "  my  only  pair  of  decent  shoes. 

What  could  I  do?  I  must  go  somewhere,  as  the 
party  were  not  willing  to  go  without  me.  Fortu 
nately,  Miss  Dupee,  assistant  in  the  Maine  State 
Agency,  had  a  pair  which  fitted  quite  well  and  she 
very  kindly  loaned  them  to  me.  One  of  the  pleas 
ant  associations  of  agency  life  in  camp  was  the 
camaraderie  that  made  all  things  in  common,  just 
as  the  soldier  shared  his  last  ration  or  his  last  dollar 
with  another  comrade  in  the  field. 

Owing  to  this  delay,  we  were  barely  able  to  catch 
the  boat  as  it  was  pushing  off  at  City  Point  Dock. 
A  pleasant  sail  on  the  James  River  brought  us  to 
the  dock  of  the  Seven-Hilled  City,  directly  into  the 
burned  and  still  smoking  district. 

The  fleeing  citizens  in  their  short-sighted  frenzy, 
had  determined  to  destroy  the  whole  city.  But 
thanks  to  the  efforts  of  the  Federal  soldiers,  chiefly 
colored,  the  greater  part  of  the  city  was  saved  for 
them,  while  the  factories  and  warehouses  continued 
to  smoke  and  burn  for  many  weeks. 

It  was  this  same  obstructed  wharf  and  destroyed 


A  VISIT  TO  RICHMOND  211 

dock  over  which  the  President  climbed,  holding 
little  Tad  by  the  hand.  They  passed  through  the 
burned  district,  against  the  protest  of  a  small  es 
cort,  while  jostled  by  a  rough  crowd. 

Blessed  by  the  grateful  negroes  crowding  around 
the  great  Errancipator,  some  kneeling  and  kissing 
the  hem  of  his  coat,  he  strode  fearlessly  on  among 
enemies  and  friends. 

A  significant  fact  to  be  forever  cherished  by  the 
freed  race  is  that  General  Weitzel,  with  the  25th 
Corps  d'  Afric,  took  possession  of  the  conquered 
city;  and  further  that  a  colored  soldier  carried  the 
President's  United  States  flag  before  him  into  the 
heart  of  Richmond,  where  it  was  raised  over  the 
Capitol,  and  Richmond  was  once  more  and  forever 
in  the  Union. 

The  Capitol,  a  modest  building  with  white  col 
umns  and  dome,  was  uninjured.  There  were  many 
comfortable-looking  detached  houses,  with  yards  or 
gardens  pleasant  to  see  after  the  bare  tent  life  at 
City  Point  Hospital. 

We  dined  at  Spotswood  Hotel,  still  managed  by 
a  Confederate  host,  where  we  greatly  enjoyed  fresh 
peas  and  corn.  We  were  rather  disappointed  by 
the  plainness  of  the  gray  mastic  front  of  the  three- 
storied  double  medium  house  of  Jefferson  Davis, 
both  inside  and  out,  with  only  a  door  yard  in  front, 
where  I  gathered  some  leaves  which  are  still  in  my 
possession. 

We  saw  the  entrance  to  the  tunnel  that  was  dug 
by  starving,  desperate  Yankee  prisoners,  almost  in 


212   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

full  view  of  the  guards,  quite  near  Libby  prison,  and 
by  which  many  had  escaped  to  freedom,  thus  bring 
ing  more  deprivation  and  abuse  upon  the  despairing 
prisoners  left  behind. 

All  was  now  changed  in  the  city.  The  inhabit 
ants  finding  they  were  not  pursued  or  in  any  way 
molested,  were  gradually  returning  to  their  homes 


and  buildings  that  they  had  not  succeeded  in  des 
troying. 

Libby  Prison  remained;  a  weather-stained  brick 
tobacco  storehouse,  the  former  scene  of  so  much 
suffering  and  indignity.  But  the  tables  were  now 
turned.  The  brutal  turnkey,  Captain  Richard 
Turner,  by  name,  I  think,  was  now  himself  a 
prisoner.  He  was  a  stocky,  brutal-looking  fellow. 
All  people  were  allowed  to  pass  and  look  through  a 


A  VISIT  TO  RICHMOND 


213 


small  open  window  at  the  miserable  wretch,  while 
he  defiantly  mounted  a  stool  in  the  middle  of  the 
room  to  show  himself  more  conspicuously.  That 
morning  a  former  prisoner  had  cajoled  him  into 


GENERAL    ULYSSES    GRANT 

coming  close  to  the  small  window,  where  the  man 
struck  through  and  felled  him  to  the  ground  as  he 
said :  "  Take  that  for  the  pail  of  filth  you  threw  over 
me  while  I  was  a  helpless  prisoner  ". 

It  was  a  fine  commentary  upon  the  discipline  and 


214   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


forbearance  of  many  liberated  victims,  that  they 
did  not  kill  or  shoot  this  monster  for  his  atrocities, 
instead  of  merely  gazing  and  glaring  at  him  silently 
through  the  small  opening. 


.* 
i-'i-/- 


GENERAL    LEE 

PEACE 

When  the  formal  announcement  of  the  final  sur 
render  of  General  Lee  to  General  Grant,  at  Appo- 
mattox,  on  the  gth  of  April,  1865,  was  confirmed  in 
the  camp,  all  knew  that  at  last  the  "  cruel  war  " 
was  over.  There  was  great  rejoicing  in  the  hos 
pital,  and  all  began  to  prepare  to  go  North,  or  home 


A  VISIT  TO  RICHMOND  215 

again,  after  so  many  weary  years  of  struggle. 
Some  wept  for  joy  as  they  wrote  to  the  weary  wait 
ing  watchers  at  home ;  some  were  to  carry  to  their 
friends  and  neighbors  the  last  words  and  deeds  of 
the  many  who  slept  beneath  the  soil  of  Virginia,  or 
further  south,  while  their  comrades  "  went  march 
ing  on  ".  The  workers  of  the  Agencies  and  the 
Commissions  had  so  long  labored  in  the  same  spirit 
that  we  were  much  like  a  large  united  family;  and 
until  we  departed  one  by  one  for  our  homes,  we  did 
not  realize  how  close  was  the  bond  of  sympathy  and 
affection,  that  could  never  be  forgotten. 


D 


216   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

CHAPTER  XXV 
RECOLLECTIONS   OF  LINCOLN 

"  We  are  not  enemies,  but  friends.  We  must  not  be 
enemies.  Though  passion  may  have  strained,  it  must 
not  break  our  bonds  of  affection.  The  mystic  chords 
of  memory  stretching  from  every  battlefield  and  patriot 
grave  to  every  living  heart  and  hearthstone,  all  over 
this  broad  land,  will  yet  swell  the  chorus  of  the  Union, 
when  again  touched,  as  surely  they  will  be  by  the 
better  angels  of  our  nature."  —  Abraham  Lincoln. 

URING  the  last  year  of  the  war  I  was  still 
working  for  the  "  Boys "  at  City  Point 
Depot  Field  Hospital,  Virginia,  half  a  mile 
from  the  headquarters  of  the  United  States  Armies 
in  the  field,  at  the  junction  of  the  Appomattox  and 
James  Rivers,  when  the  day  of  the  second  inaug 
ural  drew  near.  This  caused  a  welcome  ripple  of 
excitement  to  spread  over  the  daily  monotony  of 
discipline  in  hospital  camp  life.  The  fearless  Presi 
dent  was  to  stand  once  more  before  the  people  to 
take  the  oath  to  uphold  the  institutions  and  princi 
ples  of  his  country,  despite  the  state  policy  as  well 
as  humanity  that  had  compelled  the  passing  of  the 
Emancipation  Act,  that  had  cut  the  last  thread  of 
hope  for  the  return  of  "  the  good  old  days  "  of  the 
South. 

When  Abraham  Lincoln,  with  superhuman  cour 
age,  made  that  moral  stroke  of  the  pen  that  gave 
freedom  to  millions  of  slaves,  then  was  born  at  last 
a  free  country,  not  only  in  name,  but  in  the  glorious 


THE  PERRY  PICTURES.       125. 
BOSTON  EDITION. 


ABRAHAM     LINCOLN. 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  LINCOLN          217 

fact  that  had  blotted  out  from  our  country's  es 
cutcheon  the  shame  of  human  slavery  that  had  so 
long  branded  our  vaunted  freedom  as  a  disgrace. 
The  people,  the  great  middle  class,  the  saviours  of 
freedom  who  in  great  crises  rise  to  a  national 
emergency  like  a  towering  Gibraltar,  had  risen  to 
uphold  the  weary  hands  of  him  who  loved  his 
country  more  than  life,  though  so  often  it  had 
seemed  as  if  the  waves  of  care  and  sorrow  would 
engulf  his  tired  soul. 

Many  officers,  and  others  able  to  secure  leave  of 
absence  or  passes,  hastened  to  witness  this  greatest 
of  our  national  events.  With  other  State  Agency 
ladies,  I  was  anxious  to  break  the  long  strain  of 
caring  for  sick  and  wounded  patients  amid  scenes 
of  the  horrors  of  war  and  bloodshed.  Nine  thou 
sand  men,  at  different  times,  filled  this  well-organ 
ized  camp.  Mangled  bodies  were  brought  directly 
in  from  the  battle-fields  where  they  had  fallen,  by 
means  of  temporary  rails,  on  rough  bare  sand  cars, 
on  which  they  were  piled  like  so  many  logs,  one 
upon  another,  so  great  was  the  need  of  haste  to  get 
them  to  the  hospital.  All  of  these  were  covered 
with  dirt,  powder,  blood,  torn  uniforms,  and  seemed 
an  almost  indistinguishable  mass;  while  many  a 
half-severed  limb  dangled  from  a  shattered  human 
trunk. 

I  was  fortunate  in  being  able  to  go  to  Washing 
ton  quite  independently,  without  fear  of  detention, 
having  a  pass  from  General  Grant  that  ordered  all 
guards,  pickets,  steamboats  and  government  roads 


218    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

to  pass  "  Miss  Ada  W.  Smith  ",  and  which  prac 
tically  would  have  allowed  me  to  travel  free  with 
out  question  over  the  entire  Northern  States,  as  all 
roads  were  then  under  government  control.  Thus 
was  I  enabled  to  accept  the  invitation  of  Dr.  Hettie 
K.  Painter,  Pennsylvania  State  Agent,  and  her  hus 
band,  to  join  their  party  going  to  Washington.  On 
arriving  in  that  city  we  went  to  a  small  hotel,  where 
we  met  some  Western  friends,  and  found  there  also 
a  former  patient  from  City  Point,  Lieutenant  Gos- 
per,  who  had  lost  a  leg  in  the  skirmish  before  Pet 
ersburg,  and  was  now  convalescent.  He  mani 
fested  the  usual  cheerfulness  of  wounded  men, 
while  waiting  to  have  an  artificial  limb  adjusted,  — 
a  free  gift  from  the  government. 

We  had  secured  tickets  and  good  places  to  see 
the  official  ceremony;  but  the  surging  mass  of  hu 
manity  crowded  us  quite  beyond  hearing.  On  this 
eventful  morning  a  raw,  threatening  gale  blew  dust 
and  loose  debris  into  our  eyes  and  faces,  nearly 
blinding  us. 

"  And  men  looked  up  with  mad  disquietude  upon 
the  dull  sky ",  as  we  awaited  the  signal  of  the 
President's  coming.  At  last  the  tall,  gaunt  form 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  came  forward  on  to  the  portico  of 
the  Capitol,  surrounded  by  officials  and  attendants. 
Chief  Justice  Chase  opened  the  great  Bible,  and 
President  Lincoln  stepped  forward,  placing  his  hand 
upon  the  book  to  take,  for  the  second  time,  his  oath 
of  office.  At  this  moment,  the  leaden  sky,  that  had 
not  lifted  during  the  day,  suddenly  opened  a  small 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  LINCOLN          219 

rift,  while  a  strong  bright  ray  of  sunshine  shot 
through  and  rested  upon  the  noble  head  of  the 
soon-to-be-glorified  martyr.  A  silence  of  awe 
seemed  for  a  moment  to  overspread  the  startled 
multitude,  and  then  the  darkening  gloom  closed 
down  again  as  with  an  ominous  foreboding.  But 
not  a  word  of  that  memorable  address  could  we 
hear  above  the  soughing,  cold,  gusty  wind. 

While  planning  for  the  reception,  our  young  lieu 
tenant,  sensitive  and  refined,  positively  declined  to 
accompany  us,  repeating  only :  "  It  is  no  place  for  a 
cripple  ". 

After  we  had  exhausted  all  other  arguments,  a 
happy  thought  came  to  me :  "  Well,  Lieutenant,  if 
you  will  not  go  with  us  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to 
stay  away  also;  each  of  the  other  ladies  has  an 
escort,  and,  as  every  lady  must  be  attended,  I  can 
not  go  alone." 

"  Would  you  go  to  a  reception  with  a  cripple  on 
a  crutch?  "  he  replied,  sadly. 

My  answer  came  quickly  and  sincerely :  "  I  would 
be  proud  of  such  an  escort !  " 

At  last  he  consented,  rather  reluctantly,  to  ac 
company  us.  At  the  appointed  hour  we  started  for 
the  evening  reception.  Soon,  however,  we  found 
ourselves  in  a  frightful  crush  of  people,  crowding  up 
the  White  House  steps,  and  we  quickly  closed 
around  the  lieutenant,  fearing  he  might  get  under 
foot.  Our  party  was  carried  up  bodily  to  the  land 
ing,  where  I  found  that  my  arm  was  quite  badly 
bruised  by  the  crutch. 


220   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

After  getting  breath  and  composing  ourselves,  we 
fell  into  the  long  procession  of  couples  approaching 
the  President,  where  the  ushers  went  through  the 
form  of  taking  our  names  and  introducing  us.  In 
passing  we  saw  a  group  of  cabinet  officers  and  a 
number  of  ladies  with  Mrs.  Lincoln,  who  was 
gowned  in  white  satin  with  a  deep  black  thread  lace 
flounce  over  an  expansive  skirt,  in  the  style  of  that 
day ;  and  she  wore  her  favorite  head  dress,  a  wreath 
of  natural  pink  roses  entirely  around  her  plainly 
dressed  hair. 

The  President's  band  played  stirring  airs  in  an 
adjoining  room,  while  crowds  of  every  grade  passed 
on,  some  in  dashing  uniforms,  some  in  evidently 
fresh  "  store  clothes  ",  others  in  gorgeous  costumes, 
and  the  good  women  from  the  country  in  sensible 
black,  —  with  ill-fitting  gloves.  It  was  a  motley 
democratic  crowd,  such  as  could  be  seen  in  no  royal 
country,  and  of  which  we  are  justly  proud.  Fol 
lowing  the  almost  endless  procession  we  saw  the 
unmistakable  form  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  his  long  arm  and 
white-gloved  hand  reaching  out  to  shake  hands,  and 
bowing  in  a  mechanical  manner,  plainly  showing 
that  he  wished  this  demand  of  the  people  was  well 
over. 

Suddenly  straightening  up  his  tall  form,  while 
continuing  the  handshaking,  he  looked  eagerly 
down  the  line  and,  to  my  surprise,  as  the  lieutenant 
and  I  approached,  he  stepped  out  before  us  and, 
grasping  the  hand  of  the  crippled  soldier,  he  said  in 
an  unforgettable  tone  of  deep  sympathy :  "  God 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  LINCOLN          221 

bless  you,  my  boy !  God  bless  you !  "  Owing  to 
the  lieutenant's  crutch  I  was  obliged  to  take  his  left 
arm  which  brought  me  on  the  outside  away  from 
the  President.  I  attempted  to  pass  with  a  bow,  but 
he  stood  in  my  way,  still  holding  out  his  large  hand, 
until  I  released  mine  and  gave  it  to  him,  receiving 
a  warm,  sympathetic  grasp.  Then  I  saw  that  won 
derful  lighting  of  his  kindly  beneficent  grey  eyes, 
that  for  a  moment  often  beautified  as  with  a  halo 
that  otherwise  plain,  sad  face.  As  we  moved  on, 
the  lieutenant  exclaimed  in  happy  exultation,  "  Oh ! 
I'd  lose  another  leg  for  a  man  like  that !  " 

Such  was  the  magnetic  tone  and  touch  of  that 
rare  spirit  that  carried  hope  and  trust  to  the  hope 
less  sorrowing,  the  great  heart  that  could  with  truth 
and  sincerity  enfold  not  only  his  own  country,  but 
the  whole  human  brotherhood  of  the  world,  and 
caused  him  to  reply  in  effect  to  those  who  wished 
him  to  subscribe  to  some  special  creed :  "  When  I 
can  find  a  church  broad  enough  to  take  in  the  whole 
human  race,  then  I  will  join  it ". 

Once  again  I  saw  President  Lincoln,  after  the  in 
augural,  early  in  April  —  that  fateful  month  in 
which  occurred  the  last  battle  of  the  rebellion,  the 
surrender  of  heroic  Lee,  the  act  of  the  magnani 
mous  Grant,  the  imprisonment  of  the  Confederate 
leader,  the  conference  of  those  great  men  of  war 
and  state. 

When  Abraham  Lincoln  had  come,  in  his  own 
boat  the  River  Queen,  to  meet  Grant  and  Sherman 
at  City  Point,  he  was  so  secure  in  the  conclusion  of 


222    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

peace  at  last,  that  he  had  brought  Mrs.  Lincoln  and 
"  little  Tad  "  to  share  in  the  general  rejoicing. 

I  did  not  see  Mrs.  Lincoln  at  that  time,  and  I  had 
also  missed  seeing  her  in  1863,  when  I  had  taken 
to  the  famous  Soldier's  Rest  and  Hospital  in  Phila 
delphia  one  soldier  blinded  by  a  bullet  that  passed 
through  his  head,  cutting  both  optic  nerves,  one 
who  had  lost  both  legs,  and  another  who  had  lost 
both  arms. 

During  the  war,  when  the  troops  were  en  route  to 
the  front  and  halted  in  Philadelphia,  the  great  Lib 
erty  Bell  announced  their  coming,  and  hundreds  of 
women  and  many  men  hastened  with  bountiful  sup 
plies  to  this  great  Rest,  where  they  set  up  rough 
wooden  tables.  Here  many  passing  regiments  had 
a  generous  meal,  and  almost  lifted  the  roof  with 
their  grateful  shouts,  exceeded  only  by  those  of  the 
outside  crowd  as  they  marched  away  to  the  jolly 
tune  of  the  fife  and  drum. 

At  City  Point  the  three  Titans  of  war  and  state 
—  Lincoln,  Grant  and  Sherman  —  met  with  navy 
and  state  officers  to  conclude  the  terms  of  surren 
der  and  peace.  There  was  no  desire  to  confirm  the 
battle  cry,  "  Hang  Jeff  Davis  ",  as  in  most  countries 
would  have  been  inevitable,  and  even  sympathy  and 
mercy  inspired  the  closing  acts  of  this  national 
tragedy  that  had  cost  the  lives  of  thousands  of 
brave  Southerners,  and  of  those  of  the  invincible 
North. 

During  this  mighty  conclave  at  City  Point,  Abra 
ham  Lincoln  was  occasionally  seen  riding  to  the 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  LINCOLN          223 

front  and  about  camp  and  hospital,  and  to  visit  the 
tents,  in  his  sombre  black  suit  and  high  hat  tower 
ing  above  many  striking  uniforms  about  him.  It 
was  a  singular  fact  that  while  many  ministers  had 
come  down  to  "  overlook  the  field  "  dressed  in  the 
same  fashion,  except  that  there  was  always  some 
how  a  ministerial  dip  of  the  front  corners  of  their 
long  frock  coats  that  at  once  betrayed  their  profes 
sion,  they  were  often  ridiculed  and  guyed  by  the 
rough  soldiers.  Yet  the  thought  of  ridicule  was 
never  suggested  for  this  unique  man  who  seemed  to 
dignify  and  honor  everything  he  touched,  even 
when,  in  the  same  style,  he  rode  his  horse  in  an  un 
gainly  manner.  He  could  have  ridden  bareback 
without  loss  of  dignity. 

On  one  of  these  occasions  Mr.  Lincoln  had  ridden 
up  from  the  Point  to  visit  our  hospital,  and  was,  as 
usual,  accompanied  by  crowds  of  devoted  friends  as 
he  walked  through  the  divisions  and  avenues  of  the 
different  camps.  There  were  gathered  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  the  Ninth,  Sixth,  Fifth,  Second  Corps, 
and  the  Corps  d'  Afric,  who  were  frequently  visited 
by  their  regimental  surgeons  and  officers  of  regi 
ments  that  were  encamped  before  Petersburg. 

I  shall  always  regret  not  speaking  to  Mr.  Lincoln 
at  that  time.  It  would  have  been  very  easy  to  do, 
but  I  could  not  see  the  coming  catastrophe,  and  I 
hesitated  to  push  forward  into  the  surrounding 
crowd  to  be  presented.  As  he  passed  from  tent  to 
tent,  with  many  a  cheerful  word  to  the  suffering 
men,  a  young  man  connected  with  the  Sanitary 


224   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Commission,  now  Doctor  Jerome  Walker,  a  suc 
cessful  physician  of  Brooklyn,  said,  pointing  to 
some  tents  near-by,  "  Mr.  President,  you  do  not 
want  to  go  in  there !  " 

"  Why  not,  my  boy?  "  he  asked. 
"  Why,  sir,  they  are  sick  rebel  prisoners." 
With  a  hasty  movement  he  said,  "  That  is  just 
where  I  do  want  to  go  ",  and  he  strode  within  the 
tent,  shaking  hands  and  speaking  such  words  of 
comfort    as    only    his    magnanimous    spirit    could 
prompt,  to  the  grateful  surprise  and  pleasure  of  the 
Confederate  patients. 

ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  THE  DEATH  OF 
PRESIDENT  LINCOLN 

On  the  morning  of  April  i5th,  1865,  as  the  sun 
rose  over  our  quiet  hospital  camp,  I  was  startled  by 
the  sound  of  galloping  hoofs,  that  stopped  suddenly 
before  our  tent.  Scratching  on  the  canvas  indi 
cated  the  usual  sign  for  admission.  Hastily  unty 
ing  the  tent  flaps,  I  found  Major  William  Baker,  of 
the  Tenth  Colored  Troops,  still  mounted,  and  be 
traying  much  agitation  and  haste,  when  he  said :  "  I 
have  just  ridden  up  to  tell  you,  the  first  person  in 
the  hospital,  the  sad  news  of  the  reported  death  of 
the  President.  All  officers  were  assembled  at  2 
A.  M.  to  a  conference,  when  the  reported  assassi 
nation  by  Wilkes  Booth  was  read,  but  not  yet 
officially  confirmed  ".  With  a  sad  expression  and 
a  salute  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  dashed  back 
to  City  Point. 

Telegrams  were  slow  in  those  days,  so  it  was  not 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  LINCOLN 


225 


till  the  afternoon  that  the  terrible,  cruel  tragedy 
was  announced  at  the  hospital  camp.  The  shock 
was  paralyzing,  and  a  sombre  silence  spread  over 
the  wards  containing  the  men  who  had  learned  to 
love  this  great  soul.  Men  and  women  as  well  as 


MAJOR  WILLIAM  BAKER 

soldiers  wept  together  as  for  a  loved,  indulgent 
father,  who  had  borne  his  crushing  responsibilities 
without  a  murmur  or  a  cry  for  help.  A  few  cop 
perhead  patients  dared  to  approve  of  the  murderous 
act,  but  they  were  soon  beaten  into  silence  with  the 
crutches  of  the  indignant  crippled  convalescents. 


226    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


With  a  vague  desire  to  express  in  some  way  their 
grief,  men  came  and  begged  for  a  bit  of  black  to 
fasten  over  their  tents,  and  if  any  were  so  luckless 
as  to  have  a  black  suit  they  saw  it  speedily  reduced 
to  shreds  and  flying  from  the  entrances  of  the  wards 


J.    WILKES    BOOTH 

or  tents.  But  other  men  still  begged  so  earnestly 
for  some  black  emblem,  that  I  at  last  gave  to  them 
a  full  train  black  skirt  that  I  could  illy  spare.  This 
soon  became  floating  ribbons  over  many  a  tent,  to 
the  great  satisfaction  of  the  loyal  boys,  having  so 
little  by  which  they  could  express  their  sorrow.  In 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  LINCOLN          227 

a  few  days  some  of  us  were  so  fortunate  as  to  re 
ceive  from  home  or  from  Washington,  mourning 
badges  of  suitable  designs,  which  we  wore  as  a  mark 
of  respect  to  our  dead  President. 

In  making  the  rounds  among  my  scattered  pa 
tients  I  stopped  to  speak  to  Major  Prentiss,  of  a 
New  York  regiment,  who  had  captured  his  way 
ward  young  brother  —  a  Captain  in  the  Sixth 
Maryland  Confederate  Infantry  —  now  lying  in 
the  same  ward  quite  near,  having  lost  a  leg.  The 
Captain,  a  handsome,  cheerful  youth,  whose  happy 
jokes  and  stories  kept  his  neighbours  quite  diverted 
from  the  tedium  of  convalescence,  was  recovering 
slowly;  but  the  Major  had  been  shot  through  the 
lung,  and  one  could  hear  the  air  passing  through  the 
unhealed  wound.  He  looked  so  longingly  at  the 
badge  I  was  wearing,  that  another  brother,  who 
had  come  South  to  take  the  patients  home  if  pos 
sible,  said :  "  He  would  be  so  happy  if  he  could  have 
a  badge."  It  was  impossible  to  ignore  the  wish  of 
a  dying  soldier,  so  I  took  off  the  one  I  was  wearing 
and  pinned  it  over  his  heart.  He  could  not  speak 
his  thanks,  but  a  rare  smile  of  intense  satisfaction 
spread  over  the  sufferer's  countenance. 

As  in  most  great  catastrophes,  it  seemed  for  a 
time  as  if  the  world  must  stand  still ;  but  many  pa 
tients  still  needed  care,  and  we  were  obliged  to  go 
on  with  our  work  till  all  the  sick  were  sent  home  or 
to  Northern  hospitals,  and  each  resumed  his  daily 
duty,  while  the  spirit  of  sadness  hovered  over  the 
hospital  campus. 


228    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Lincoln  was  not  a  type, 

No  ancestors,  no  fellows,  no  successors. 

Ingersoll. 

O  CAPTAIN!     MY  CAPTAIN! 
O  Captain !  my  Captain !  our  fearful  trip  is  done, 
The  ship  has  weathered  every  rack,  the  prize  we  sought 

is  won, 

The  port  is  near,  the  bells  I  hear,  the  people  all  ex 
ulting, 
While  follow  eyes  the  steady  keel,  the  vessel  grim  and 

daring ; 

But  O  heart!  heart!  heart! 
O  the  bleeding  drops  of  red, 

Where  on  the  deck  my  Captain  lies, 
Fallen  cold  and  dead. 

O  Captain !  my  Captain !  rise  up  and  hear  the  bells ; 
Rise  up  —  for  you  the  flag  is  flung  —  for  you  the 

bugle  trills, 
For  you  bouquets  and  ribboned  wreaths  —  for  you  the 

shores  a-crowding, 
For  you  they  call,  the  swaying  mass,  their  eager  faces 

turning ; 

Here  Captain!  dear  father! 
This  arm  beneath  your  head! 

It  is  some  dream  that  on  the  deck 
You've  fallen  cold  and  dead. 

My  Captain  does  not  answer,  his  lips  are  pale  and  still, 
My  father  does  not  feel  my  arm,  he  has  no  pulse  nor 

will, 
The  ship  is  anchored  safe  and  sound,  its  voyage  closed 

and  done, 
From  fearful  trip  the  victor  ship  comes  in  with  object 

won; 

Exult  O  shores,  and  ring  O  bells 
But  I,  with  mournful  tread, 

Walk  the  deck,  my  Captain  lies, 
Fallen  cold  and  dead. 

Walt  Whitman. 


LETTER  FROM  DOCTOR  BRUSON       229 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

A  RECENT  LETTER  FROM   DOCTOR  MARY 
BLACKMAR  BRUSON 

"  Jacksonville,  Florida, 

April,  19 1  o. 

MY  DEAR  ADA: 
At  your  request  I  send  some  incidents  of 
camp  life  as  they  come  to  mind. 

After  one  of  the  fearful  onslaughts  at  Petersburg, 
the  wounded  came  pouring  into  my  tent,  which  was 
nearest  to  the  firing  line,  so  that  a  drummer-lad 
had  named  it  '  The  Half  Way  House  '.  One  lad 
dropped  from  the  wagon  in  which  he  was  being 
transported,  as  they  passed  my  tent.  I  ran  and 
cried  out  to  the  driver.  He  coolly  replied  '  He  is 
dead,  what  does  it  matter ! ' 

I  knelt  by  the  boy's  side  and  found  a  remote  evi 
dence  of  life,  but  hemorrhage  was  so  profuse  it 
seemed  he  could  not  survive.  I  called  the  attention 
of  surgeons,  but  all  said  '  We  must  go  on  '.  So 
with  my  knowledge  that  life  was  not  extinct,  and 
that  he  was  so  young  and  had  the  force  of  youth, 
(moreover  the  hardships  of  the  Confederates  had 
toughened  him),  I  remained  on  the  ground  at  his 
side  not  daring  to  leave  him,  but  compelled  to  use 
my  fingers  as  a  tampon. 

I  remained  with  him  twenty-four  hours  before  I 
felt  safe  in  having  him  carried  to  a  ward.  Cramped 


230    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

and  exhausted  from  such  a  strain,  in  addition  to 
weakness  induced  by  loss  of  sleep  through  nights 
and  days  previous,  I  could  hardly  crawl  into  my 
tent.  Being  cold  I  heated  a  brick,  put  it  in  my  cot 
and  was  soon  so  deeply  sunk  in  oblivion,  it  seemed 
I  would  have  remained  so  forever,  but  for  my  com 
panions,  Misses  V.  and  M.,  who  came  in  at  mid 
night.  Soon  after  they  retired  they  discovered  a 
dense  smoke  rilling  the  tent  and  were  aware  of 
burning  wool.  They  called  me  again  and  again, 
but  getting  no  reply  they  jumped  up  and  pulled  me 
from  the  burning  cot  and  finally  roused  me,  so  that 
I  calmly  dressed. 

Morning  found  my  limbs,  from  ankles  to  knees, 
one  solid  blister,  but  this  I  was  at  first  too  stupid 
to  realize,  or  even  the  danger  which  I  had  escaped 
through  my  faithful  friends.  No  one  knew  of  the 
accident  but  ourselves,  and  I  went  about  my  work 
as  usual.  Nature  alone  was  the  healer. 

One  day  I  asked  a  poor  exhausted  soldier  —  so 
feeble  from  disease  and  exposure  that  he  could  only 
whisper  —  if  there  was  anything  he  wished,  and 
said  that  if  so  I  would  try  to  get  it  for  him.  With 
tears  and  sighs  he  replied,  "  O,  Miss,  if  you  would 
only  get  me  some  fried  bacon  with  molasses  poured 
over  it,  I  would  get  well !  "  It  was  a  novel  dish  to 
me  but  was  easily  attained,  and  the  man's  appetite 
was  so  quickened  by  the  relishable  food  that  he 
began  to  recover  forthwith.  In  later  years  I 
learned  that  very  many  looked  upon  it  as  a  special 
delicacy. 


LETTER  FROM  DOCTOR  BRUSON   231 

I  was  finally  placed  in  charge  of  the  Confederate 
wards,  and  there  saw  that  grandest  of  men,  Presi 
dent  Lincoln.  This  was  after  the  last  assault  on 
Petersburg,  and  men  horribly  wounded  and  sick, 
from  both  armies,  were  rushed  into  our  camp  hos 
pital  at  City  Point.  I  was  given  especial  care  of 
the  private  Confederates,  and  my  companion,  that 
fine,  grand  woman,  Miss  Vance,  took  charge  of  the 
Confederate  officers.  I  had  only  an  orderly  to  as 
sist  me  —  a  boy  about  sixteen,  —  and  what  with 
the  cleaning  and  caring  for  each  sick,  torn  body, 
our  powers  were  strained  to  the  utmost  limit  of  en 
durance.  Our  patients'  cots  were  so  close  together 
that  we  could  just  squeeze  between,  and  our  ward 
so  long  that  it  required  from  three  to  four  tents. 

General  Grant  was  at  City  Point,  and  President 
Lincoln  came  down  at  this  time,  before  our  army 
marched  into  Richmond.  One  day  both  of  them 
were  coming  slowly  down  my  avenue.  The  orderly 
rushed  in  and  cried  out  —  *  President  Lincoln's 
coming ! '  I  was  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  hospital 
tent,  but,  girl-like,  started  forward  that  I  might  see 
him.  At  that  instant,  oh,  such  a  puny,  helpless 
wail,  as  of  sick  and  dying  infants,  issued  from  every 
throat :  *  Oh,  don't  leave  us,  Miss !  He  is  a  beast ! 
He  will  kill  us ! ' 

I  replied :  '  Oh,  no !  He  is  a  grand  good  man ! ' 
Again  and  again  came  forth  that  puny  wail,  *  Don't 
leave  us,  Miss ! '  till  I  finally  said,  '  Well,  I'll  not 
leave  you,  don't  fear !  '  but  by  that  time  I  had  got 
to  the  front  of  the  tent  and  the  orderly  had  pulled 


232   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

back  a  flap  on  my  request  so  that  I  peered  out. 
Within  about  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  were  both  men. 
General  Grant  with  the  inevitable  cigar,  and  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  so  tall,  so  lank,  giving  evidence  of 
much  sorrow,  looming  over  him.  I  heard  General 
Grant  say  distinctly,  '  These  are  the  Confederate 
quarters '.  President  Lincoln  immediately  said, 
'  I  wish  to  go  in  here  alone !  ' 

I  drew  myself  up  into  the  corner  as  close  as  pos 
sible,  and  he  bent  under  the  open  flap  and  came  in. 
He  went  at  once  to  a  bedside,  and  reverently  leaned 
over  almost  double  so  low  were  the  cots,  and 
stroked  the  soldier's  head,  and  with  tears  streaming 
down  his  face  he  said  in  a  sort  of  sweet  anguish, 
"  Oh,  my  man,  why  did  you  do  it?  "  The  boy  in 
gray  said,  or  rather  stammered  weakly,  almost  in  a 
whisper,  '  I  went  because  my  State  went '.  On 
that  ground  floor,  so  quiet  was  the  whole  ward,  a 
pin  could  almost  have  been  heard  to  fall.  President 
Lincoln  went  from  one  bedside  to  another  and 
touched  each  forehead  gently,  and  with  tears 
streaming  asked  again  the  question,  and  again 
heard  the  same  reply.  When  he  finally  passed  out 
from  those  boys,  some  grey  and  grizzled,  but  many 
of  them  children,  there  came  as  from  one  voice, 
*  Oh,  we  didn't  know  he  was  such  a  good  man ! 
We  thought  he  was  a  beast ! ' 

At  the  close  of  hostilities,  I,  with  many  others, 
went  with  the  army  to  Richmond  and  Washington, 
and  there  saw  the  final  parade  of  60,000  troops 
before  the  White  House.  I  afterward  returned  to 


LETTER  FROM  DOCTOR  BRUSON   233 

my  college  and  hospital  and  completed  my  studies, 
and  since  then  have  led  a  strenuous  life  as  a  prac 
tising  physician  in  Florida. 
As  ever, 

Your  old  Comrade, 

MARY." 


234    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XXVII 
LAST  OF  CITY  POINT 

IN  some  early  chapters  on  the  good  work  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission  I  wrote  of  the  denuded 
hospital  camp,  belated  sick  soldiers,  etc.     After 
the  departure  of  the  Second  Corps  hospital  officers, 
I  was  the  only  white  woman  in  camp,  and  I  took 
possession  of  their  headquarters,  in  a  rustic  cottage 
of  one  story  built  by  the  engineer  corps  in  pretty 
artistic  style  with  boughs  and  branches  cut  from  the 
woods  near  by. 

Four  rooms,  with  central  entrance,  made  a  com 
fortable  homelike  shelter  where  "  Aunty "  also 
stayed  and  looked  after  my  interests.  The  colored 
guard  detailed  by  General  Russell  marched  their 
steady  beat  daily  and  nightly,  while  a  stack  of  mus 
kets  stood  before  my  little  door.  A  circular  lawn 
was  often  occupied  by  negroes  anxious  for  a  word 
with  "  De  bressed  white  Yankee  lady  ",  while  their 
picanninies,  rolling  on  the  grass,  made  the  place 
quite  lively,  despite  the  warnings  of  Auntie  to 
"  Dem  black  niggers  dat  ain't  got  no  manners  no 
how." 

This  kind-hearted  old  mammy  always,  somehow, 
managed  to  have  a  bright  bandanna  turban  and  a 
fresh  white  apron.  She  took  that  rare  possession 
of  me,  known  only  to  house  servants  of  southern 
families. 


LAST  OF  CITY  POINT  235 

Mrs.  Russell  remained  in  her  husband's  headquar 


ters  at  the  Point,  and  afforded  me  many  pleasant 


236   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

social  courtesies.  General  Russell  invited  me  for  a 
buggy  ride  to  Petersburg,  still  under  command  of 
General  Willcox. 

As  we  rode  by  the  deserted  earthworks  and 
former  lines  in  front  of  Petersburg,  —  the  field  of 
the  last  battle  being  still  strewn  with  empty  can 
teens,  broken  muskets,  etc.,  its  earthworks  up 
turned  and  great  chasms  torn  as  if  by  an  earth 
quake,  —  General  Russell  pointed  to  a  wrecked 
fort  saying  "  That  was  the  Burnside  mine,  the 
'  Crater  '  where  I  lost  three  hundred  of  the  bravest 
soldiers  that  ever  went  into  battle.  They  were  the 
negro  hero  martyrs  of  the  Burnside  mine  explosion, 
where  many  a  brave  Yankee  white  boy  also  gave  up 
his  life  ". 

General  Russell's  brigade  included  a  number  of 
regiments,  among  them  the  Tenth  Colored  Regi 
ment,  with  Major  William  Baker,  of  Maine,  com 
manding.  At  the  close  of  the  war  it  was  ordered 
to  Texas  to  subdue  the  turbulent  element  and  to 
protect  helpless  citizens.  We  met  many  destitute 
negroes  still  flocking  to  City  Point. 

As  soon  as  the  front  lines  were  abandoned,  hun 
dreds  of  negroes  ran  from  Petersburg  to  beg  our 
chaplains  to  marry  them.  Some  were  very  young ; 
and  a  grey-haired  old  man  said,  "  Me  and  Belinda 
has  just  stood  by  each  other  ever  since  we  was 
a'most  boy  and  gall;  our  chillun  is  sol'  away,  and 
we  wants  to  get  married  like  white  folks,  so  we 
can't  be  separated  no  mo'."  This  seemed  the  ulti 
matum  of  their  understanding  of  freedom. 


LAST  OF  CITY  POINT  237 

Conversions  and  immersions  filled  most  of  their 
time.  These  ragged  homeless  freedmen  were  gain 
ing  some  glimmering  of  morality  and  religion;  but 
it  was  a  motley  crowd  that  assembled  on  the  shore 
of  the  James  River,  shouting  and  singing  in  their 
childish  way,  as  they  were  immersed  one  by  one,  by 
their  own  preacher  or  leader,  —  then  rising  and 
shouting  hallelujahs  as  they  sprang  up  and  down  in 
the  water  in  a  frenzied  manner,  quite  ludicrous  to 
observe. 

Contrabands  were  spying  out  the  desolate  land, 
and  looking  for  jobs.  Surgeon  Thomas  Pooley 
was  put  in  charge  of  this  denuded  hospital,  and 
joined  my  mess  in  the  little  cottage  where  Auntie 
made  some  palatable  southern  dishes  with  our  re 
maining  supplies. 

The  Christian  Commission  and  State  Agencies 
had  "  struck  their  tents  "  and  vanished  almost  in  a 
night.  Happily  the  Sanitary  Commission,  with 
their  larger  work  and  supplies,  had  been  detained 
until  the  arrival  of  the  stranded  regiment,  (of  which 
I  wrote  earlier)  when  with  a  detail  from  General 
Russell's  brigade,  still  in  command  of  the  deserted 
United  States  quarters  at  the  Point,  they  were  en 
abled  to  reconstruct  a  sheltered  ward  into  a  degree 
of  comfort  for  the  exhausted  men.  Lack  of  disci 
pline  and  policing  soon  resulted  in  disorder  and  un 
tidiness  in  these  formerly  perfectly  systematized 
camps.  Quantities  of  unportable  home-made  furni 
ture,  etc.,  and  general  debris  were  left,  to  the  de 
light  of  the  destitute  contrabands.  All  government 


238    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

tents  and  property  had  been  "  turned  in "  and 
strictly  registered. 

I  well  remember  my  farewell  glance  at  the  demol 
ished  hospital,  as  I  rode  for  the  last  time  to  City 
Point  to  take  the  transport  for  Washington.  Tent 
roofs  gone,  only  stockade  sides  remained  intact; 
bunks  stripped  and  bare,  much  was  abandoned  that 
would  now  be  useless  to  the  army.  Negroes 
swarmed  like  bees  around  these  treasures,  and  some 
improvised  roofs  and  shelter  from  abundant  ma 
terial  lying  about,  and  seemed  happy  in  this  tem 
porary  home  with  little  thought  of  the  future,  or 
knowledge  of  the  Freedmen  Bureau  then  under 
General  Howard's  management,  devising  means  to 
save  them  from  starvation. 

I  took  leave  of  my  faithful,  tearful  old  Auntie, 
evidently  a  leader  among  the  irresponsible  bewild 
ered  contrabands,  who  felt  perfectly  happy  and  safe 
as  long  as  the  Yankees  were  there  to  protect  them. 

At  City  Point,  where  little  remained  to  show  the 
old  site  of  General  Grant's  Headquarters  of  the 
United  States  Armies,  as  I  went  aboard  a  govern 
ment  transport  bound  for  New  York,  I  showed  for 
the  last  time  my  pass,  that  had  given  me  protection 
and  much  independence,  and  as  I  look  back  I  am 
surprised  as  I  think  of  my  perfect  freedom  from 
restraint  in  choosing  my  patients  and  my  work  in 
the  hospital  and  State  Agencies. 

As  the  shore  receded,  leaving  a  broken  outline  of 
the  hospital  and  Point,  a  feeling  of  homesickness, 
followed  by  thoughts  of  trials,  discomforts,  pleas- 


LAST  OF  CITY  POINT  239 

ures,  and  hopes  in  our  active  life  among  the  sick 
and  dying,  —  as  well  as  the  thought  of  the  many 
recovered  and  sent  home  to  their  friends  by  army 
women,  —  all  these  passed  in  kaleidoscopic 
changes,  as,  almost  alone  on  board  the  transport,  I 
turned  my  face  toward  Washington,  and  the  months 
of  hospital  work  waiting  for  me  there.  The  very 
last  object  that  attracted  my  attention,  as  I  looked 
back,  was  on  a  hill  just  outside  the  hospital  grounds. 
A  great  leather  army  shoe  that,  on  the  horizon, 
looked  about  the  size  of  a  small  row  boat  or  canoe, 
stood  out  in  bold  relief.  This  set  me  laughing  as  I 
remembered  the  night  attempt  of  the  owner  to  steal 
from  our  little  house,  and  the  fact  that  in  his  flight, 
months  before,  he  had  lost  his  shoe,  not  daring  to 
return  for  it  lest  he  be  captured  and  punished.  This 
monument  of  his  failure  remained. 


240    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

WASHINGTON   AND   NEW   YORK   STATE 
AGENCY 

ARRIVED  in  Washington  I  went  directly  to 
the  home  of  my  army  friend,  Doctor  Hettie 
K.  Painter,  to  remain  until  I  decided  upon 
my  next  move.  The  following  day  I  reported  to 
Colonel  Goodrich,  head  of  New  York  State  Agency 
in  Washington,  and  found  that  he  wished  me  to  re 
main  and  assist  him  in  the  closing  up  of  the  Wash 
ington  work.  This  meant  the  visiting  of  the  sev 
eral  hospitals  scattered  at  long  distances  over  the 
city  and  suburbs.  Army  Square,  Douglas  and 
Harewood  Hospitals  sheltered  most  of  the  New 
York  men.  I  listened  to  their  many  complaints  at 
being  so  long  detained  when  they  seemed  quite  able 
to  travel,  but  were  delayed  for  various  reasons. 
The  work  was  chiefly  of  a  clerical  form,  viz. :  to 
find  out  what  difficulties  detained  the  men,  and  why, 
when  they  were  entitled  to  a  discharge,  it  could  not 
be  obtained.  Some  could  not  get  their  pay,  some 
had  lost  their  descriptive  lists,  a  few  were  waiting 
for  their  friends  to  take  them  home,  while  still 
other  disabilities  interfered. 

Owing  to  the  great  distances  between  hospitals 
which  involved  a  great  deal  of  walking,  considerable 
time  was  lost  and  much  fatigue  followed.  I  there 
fore  determined  to  go  to  Medical  Headquarters  and 


WASHINGTON  AGENCY  241 

ask  for  an  ambulance  on  the  strength  of  the  pass 
that  I  still  held  from  General  Grant.  This  author 
ity,  of  course,  was  good  only  during  the  war,  but 
after  some  explanations  the  medical  authorities 
courteously  offered  to  give  me  the  use  of  a  medical 
headquarters  ambulance,  though  all  ambulances  had 
been  "  called  in  ". 

The  next  morning  one  came  for  me,  and  I  was 
driven  to  the  New  York  Agency,  greatly  to  the  sur 
prise  of  Colonel  Goodrich,  who  gave  me  a  list  of 
hospital  soldiers  to  visit.  At  the  close  of  the  day  I 
was  able  to  make  a  complete  report.  The  time 
saved  in  driving  was  considerable,  and  I  was  able  to 
accomplish  much  more  than  those  who  had  to  walk 
long  distances  from  hospital  to  hospital,  as  other 
agents  had  then  to  do. 

The  following  day,  on  calling  at  the  agency  for 
my  list,  the  Colonel  said :  "  Miss  Smith,  you  may 
visit  the  near  by  hospitals  to-day,  and  I  will  use  the 
ambulance  for  other  work  ". 

"  I  beg  pardon,  Colonel,"  I  replied,  "  I  am  re 
sponsible  for  the  ambulance  and  no  one  can  use  it 
except  by  my  invitation.  If  any  agent  would  like 
to  be  dropped  at  any  hospital  I  shall  be  very  happy 
to  accommodate  him." 

The  New  York  Agency  ambulance  had  been 
called  in,  which  was  rather  irritating.  The  Colonel 
never  quite  forgave  me  this  independence,  and  some 
time  later  he  remarked,  regarding  the  failure  to  put 
through  a  troublesome  case :  "  Perhaps  Miss  Smith, 
with  her  usual  pertinacity,  might  accomplish  it ". 


£42   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

"  If  you  can  not  succeed,  Colonel,  it  is  no  reason 
why  I  should  not  ",  I  replied  quickly.  "  Please  give 
me  the  case." 

Putting  my  whole  interest  and  energy  into  the 
work,  I  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  reporting  the 
case  as  settled  satisfactorily. 


SERGEANT  BOSTON  CORBETT 

During  a  visit  to  Harewood  Hospital,  I  observed 
a  very  sleek-looking  young  man,  apparently  ab 
sorbed  in  reading  the  Bible.  This  man  I  found  was 
the  notorious  Boston  Corbett  who  had  disobeyed 
orders  to  capture  Booth  alive.  He  had  shot  him  in 
the  barn,  then  burning,  and  which  was  surrounded 


WASHINGTON  AGENCY  243 

by  a  cordon  of  troops.  For  this  disobedience  Cor- 
bett  had  been  imprisoned,  but  ill-health  had  brought 
him  to  the  hospital.  I  asked  him  why  he  had  dis 
obeyed  orders,  and  he  replied  that  Booth  was  about 
to  get  away,  and  he  thought  it  better  to  shoot  him 
than  to  run  the  chance  of  having  him  escape.  I 
then  asked  how  he  came  to  have  such  a  remarkable 
name.  He  replied :  "  When  I  was  born  my  father 
could  not  decide  upon  a  name  for  me,  so  being  a 
very  religious  man,  he  asked  the  Lord,  and  the 
Lord  said  '  Call  him  Boston  '  ".  I  still  have  the 
photograph  he  gave  me  in  his  favorite  Bible-reading 
pose. 

The  piazza  of  Mrs.  Painter's  house  was  separated 
from  that  of  the  adjoining  house  only  by  a  railing. 
Here  lived  a  Southern  family  consisting  of  father, 
mother  and  a  beautiful  daughter.  The  father  had 
been  secretary  to  Jefferson  Davis,  and  from  a  social 
point  of  view,  was  an  elegant  courteous  gentleman. 
I  greatly  enjoyed  his  Southern  accent  and  refined 
conversation.  He  had  been  obliged,  through  pov 
erty,  to  rent  a  part  of  his  house  to  some  Northern 
politicians. 

One  day  I  saw  going  up  the  steps,  a  fine-looking 
man,  Colonel  Forney,  a  prominent  politician  of  that 
day.  He  asked  politely  of  this  Southern  gentleman, 
then  seated  on  the  piazza,  if  he  could  see  Mr.  B., 
whereupon  the  owner  of  the  house  flew  into  a  rage, 
as  if  insulted,  and  said :  "  I  don't  know,  suh,  ring  the 
bell  for  the  servant !  "  As  the  servant  opened  the 
door  for  the  Colonel  to  pass,  the  irate  gentleman 


244   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

said  to  him,  quite  childishly,  —  but  in  fierce  tones, 
—  "  Bring  me  my  cut  glass  carafe  of  cold  water  in 
stantly." 

A  few  days  later,  as  we  were  again  sitting  on  the 
piazza,  having  a  pleasant  chat,  this  same  gentleman 
told  me,  with  great  indignation,  of  the  insults  they 
were  now  compelled  to  take  from  free  niggers.  He 
said  that  a  servant  maid  had  become  so  independent 
that  she  would  not  answer  her  mistress'  bell.  "  I 
determined  to  stop  such  presumption  and  ordered 
my  wife  to  continue  ringing  while  I  went  down  and 
hid  myself  behind  the  kitchen  door.  The  bell  rang 
and  rang  again  while  the  wench  laughed  and  said 
to  another  servant :  '  She  can  just  keep  on  a  ringin', 
an'  when  I  gets  good  and  ready  I'll  come ! '  This 
was  too  much  ",  he  said.  "  I  went  quickly  forward 
into  the  kitchen  and  slapped  her  black  face  twice! 
The  insolent  hussy  had  the  temerity  to  have  me 
haled  to  court  and  bound  over  to  keep  the  peace !  " 
This  was  the  saddest  effect  I  had  yet  seen  of  the 
influence  of  slave-holding. 

While  boarding  with  Mrs.  Painter  I  met  that 
eccentric  yet  anomalous  woman,  Doctor  Mary 
Walker,  pleasant,  refined  and  interesting,  despite 
the  semi-masculine  garb  she  had  then  adopted. 
Her  husband,  an  army  surgeon,  was,  I  think,  then 
living,  but  died  soon  after  the  war. 

In  speaking  of  her  dress,  her  arguments  and  logic 
were  unanswerable.  She  wore  loose,  long  trousers 
to  boot  tops,  a  skirt  below  her  knees,  a  close-fitting 


WASHINGTON  AGENCY  245 

jacket  and  cape,  much  like  an  officer's,  high  collar 
and  soft  hat,  all  rather  becoming  for  her  petite  style. 

"You-",  she  said,  "with  long  skirts,  sweep  up 
and  carry  home  with  you  samples  of  all  sorts  of 
filth  from  the  streets,  and  besides  you  are  not 
modest,  for  when  you  must  lift  your  skirts  there  is 
always  a  suggestive  display  of  hosiery,  while  I  go 
home  free  from  extraneous  matter  and  never  have 
to  expose  my  ankles."  This  was  perfect  hygiene 
and  logical;  and  many  times  in  my  army  work  I 
wished  I  could  go  about  without  drabbled  skirts. 

Doctor  Walker  was,  I  think,  a  graduate  phy 
sician  and  did  much  good  among  sick  soldiers.  But 
she  gradually  grew  more  pronounced  in  her  man 
nish  attire,  and  was  many  times  arrested  for  that  in 
fringement  of  the  law.  She  always  pleaded  her 
own  case  so  logically  that  she  was  generally  dis 
missed  with  a  reprimand,  and  cautioned  not  to  do  so 
again.  But  to  this  warning  she  paid  no  regard; 
and  at  one  time  entered  the  court-room  bearing  the 
United  States  flag  and  claiming  her  rights  as  an 
American  citizen. 

The  last  I  heard  of  Doctor  Mary  Walker  was 
from  a  friend  who,  in  1908,  saw  her,  —  then  grown 
old,  —  in  a  Brooklyn  car.  She  was  dressed  in  full 
male  costume,  —  trousers,  collar,  tie,  dress  coat, 
high  silk  hat,  and  held  a  gaudy  little  cane. 

It  was  reported  that,  at  a  recent  Suffrage  Con 
vention  in  Albany,  Doctor  Walker  claimed  that 
New  Jersey's  early  constitution  included  Women's 


246    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

Suffrage,  —  that  this  part  of  the  constitution  was 
never  finally  repealed,  though  abrogated  in  some 
way,  and  that  therefore  New  Jersey  is  a  Suffrage 
State. 


OLD  CAPITOL  PRISON  247 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

OLD  CAPITOL  PRISON,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C., 

1865 

AMONG  the  unusual  cases  that  often  fell  to 
me,  was  that  of  an  elderly  man,  who  had  at 
one  time  been  a  judge  in  New  Jersey,  but 
drink  had  been  his  undoing.  He  was  now  serving 
a  Civil  Service  sentence  for  petty  larceny  in  Old 
Capitol  Prison.  I  saw  at  once  that  he  was  a  "  bum 
mer  ",  but  that  he  had  been  a  gentleman  while 
sober.  I  did  not  feel  much  interest  in  this  man 
personally,  but  he  showed  me  a  letter  from  his  son, 
evidently  educated,  in  which  he  begged  his  father 
to  come  home,  saying  he  would  take  care  of  him 
and  they  might  live  together  and  be  happy.  The 
man  had  been  a  soldier  for  a  short  time,  but  had 
been  degraded  and  discharged,  and  was  now  a 
prisoner  of  Civil  Law.  It  was  a  difficult  case,  but 
for  the  sake  of  his  faithful  son  I  undertook  it.  I 
went  to  Judge  Carter,  of  that  district,  urging  him  to 
let  the  man  go. 

"  It  is  of  no  use,  Miss  Smith.  The  old  fellow  is  a 
scamp  and  not  to  be  trusted  for  a  moment ",  was 
the  reply.  "  He  will  steal  anything,  and  if  I  should 
let  him  go  to-day  he  would  be  back  here  to-morrow 
on  another  charge.  He  was  arrested  on  the  charge 
of  stealing  a  wheel-barrow." 

"  Why,  Judge,"  I  said,  laughing,  "  he  did  not 


248    REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

know  what  he  was  doing.  He  might  as  well  have 
stolen  a  grindstone !  " 

This  seemed  greatly  to  amuse  the  judge,  and  he 
said  directly :  "  Well,  that  settles  it ;  if  you  will  see 
that  he  goes  out  of  the  city  on  the  train  to  his  son, 
he  may  go.  If  he  gets  free  he  will  be  back  here  in 
a  week  on  another  charge." 

Quite  pleased  with  my  success,  I  went  to  the 
Sanitary  Commission,  still  in  Washington,  secured 
a  ticket  to  his  home,  and  wrote  to  his  son  to  meet 
him;  then  I  notified  the  old  man  to  be  ready  at  a 
certain  hour  the  next  day  when  I  would  call  for  him. 

When  I  went  to  the  prison  for  him  he  began  a 
round  of  deliberate  lying,  and  tried  every  subterfuge 
to  evade  me  and  get  away,  so  that  he  might  remain 
in  Washington.  Finally  I  said :  "  You  will  go  with 
me  to  the  train  where  I  will  put  you  in  charge  of  the 
conductor,  who  will  deliver  you  to  your  son,  and  if 
you  will  not  agree  to  this  you  may  remain  where 
you  are  ". 

At  last  we  started  on  our  way  down  Pennsylvania 
Avenue.  He  insisted  that  the  Government  owed 
him  money,  so  I  took  him  to  General  Brice's  office, 
where  his  clerks  soon  found  a  record  of  desertion, 
fraud,  and  bounty-jumping.  I  lost  no  time  in  get 
ting  him  to  the  train,  threatening  to  have  him  ar 
rested  if  he  attempted  to  give  me  the  slip.  The 
conductor  took  him  in  charge  and  promised  to  de 
liver  him  to  his  son,  and  I  was  glad  to  get  the  old 
sinner  off  my  hands.  A  few  days  after,  I  received 
a  grateful  letter  from  the  faithful  son. 


OLD  CAPITOL  PRISON 


249 


Some  months  later  I  chanced  to  see  a  Jersey 
paper  which  stated  that  my  old  scamp  had  been  ar 
rested  for  stealing  photograph  albums,  and  that  he 
had  formerly  been  a  reputable  judge. 

On  returning  from  the  train  I  stopped  at  the  War 


GENERAL  WINFIELD   SCOTT   HANCOCK 


Department  for  advice  in  some  other  cases.  There 
I  chanced  to  meet  General  Winfield  Hancock,  who 
gave  me  his  autograph,  and,  chatting  easily,  we 
walked  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue.  And  so  it  hap 
pened  that  I  had  walked  down  Pennsylvania  Avenue 
with  a  miserable  old  "  prison  bird  "  and  had  walked 


250   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

up  the  Avenue  with  "  the  handsomest  man  in  the 
army ",  whose  appearance  was  greatly  enhanced 
by  a  spotless,  brilliant  uniform. 

At  Army  Square  Hospital  I  met  again  my 
former  patient  of  City  Point,  who  had  captured 
his  young  rebel  brother,  the  Captain.  Their 
faithful  brother  had,  with  much  care  and  difficulty, 
succeeded  in  bringing  them  to  this  hospital,  but 
the  cheerful  young  captain  had  died  there  from 
gangrene,  —  perhaps  due  to  carelessness.  The 
Major,  weaker  than  when  at  City  Point,  unable  to 
speak,  motioned  his  brother'  to  say  that  he  had  not 
forgotten  the  Lincoln  badge  I  had  given  him,  and 
that  he  would  always  cherish  it.  His  devoted 
brother  had  struggled  heroically  to  reach  their 
city,  and  the  Major  had  at  least  his  wish  to  die  at 
home.  Thus  ended  another  of  the  many  tragedies 
of  our  unholy,  unnecessary  war. 

During  my  last  weeks  in  Washington,  I  attended 
a  session  of  the  trial  of  Wirz,  a  Swiss,  formerly 
turnkey  of  Andersonville  prison,  who  was  later 
found  guilty  of  barbarous  treatment  of  prisoners  of 
war  and  condemned  to  be  hanged,  with  eight  con 
spirators  against  the  life  of  President  Lincoln,  in 
cluding  Mrs.  Surette.  I  believe,  however,  that 
only  four,  including  Mrs.  Surette,  were  executed. 
These  were  the  only  traitors  that  suffered  igno 
minious  death.  Can  any  other  victorious  nation 
show  such  Christian  clemency? 

Assisted  by  the  Agency  and  Government  De 
partments,  I  had  great  success  in  difficult  cases. 


OLD  CAPITOL  PRISON 


251 


After  much  travelling  about  from  one  department 
to  another  in  the  interest  of  a  convalescent  soldier, 
I  collected  for  him  fifty  dollars,  —  which  was  long 
due,  and  which  at  once  enabled  him  to  start  for  his 
home,  greatly  elated  by  his  freedom. 


CORDELIA  ANDERSON 

An  erratic,  wild  Irishman  was  made  almost  de 
lirious  by  getting  his  long  delayed  three  hundred 
dollars,  and  insisted  upon  giving  me  fifty  dollars 
of  it,  but  I  informed  him  that  I  did  not  work  for 
pay.  He  wrote  me  from  New  York  later,  on  a 


252   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

double  sheet  of  cap,  in  letters  an  inch  long,  with 
"  God  bless  you !  "  scrawled  all  over  the  page. 

Having  left  Doctor  Painter's  hospitable  home,  I 
was  now  boarding  on  K  Street,  where  I  met  a 
most  charming  blonde  Scotch  girl  —  Cordelia 
Anderson,  holding  a  responsible  position  in  the 
Treasury  Department.  She  made  my  evenings  de 
lightful,  as  had  my  friend  Annie  Bain  in  our  field 
tent  at  City  Point,  after  the  strain,  the  work  and 
indignation  of  almost  every  day.  A  few  years 
later,  this  rare  young  woman,  still  in  Washington 
in  July  of  '67,  sent  for  me  to  come  to  her  on  my 
way  north  on  my  vacation  from  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
where  I  was  Superintendent  of  Colored  Schools. 
She  was  very  ill  with  typhoid.  I  nursed  her  till 
the  doctor  insisted  that  for  my  own  health  I  must 
leave  her,  when  a  kindly  old  Auntie  took  charge 
until  her  recovery. 

The  intolerable  heat  of  Washington  at  that  sea 
son  was  unusual.  The  streets  were  not  paved,  and 
a  fine  impalpable  dust,  continually  rising,  was 
suffocating.  At  the  boarding  house  where  we 
were,  I  saw  the  most  astonishing  rats,  as  large  as 
small  cats;  and  at  night  when  I  went  down-stairs 
to  get  ice  for  the  sick  girl,  they  ran  up-stairs  ahead 
of  me,  and  coolly  sat  upon  their  haunches,  blinking 
at  me  with  their  vicious  black  eyes. 


THE  LAST  ACT  IN  MY  DRAMA          253 


CHAPTER  XXX 

THE  LAST  ACT  IN  MY  DRAMA  AT 
WASHINGTON 

WHILE  still  working  at  high  tension  I  sud 
denly  became  aware  that  even  my  great 
vitality  and  good  health  demanded  a  rest, 
and  I  was  preparing  to  leave  for  home,  when  Mr. 
Huron,  of  the  Indiana  State  Agency,  who  had 
nearly  lost  his  pretty  wife  by  typhoid  at  City 
Point,  came  urging  me  to  undertake  an  unusually 
difficult  case,  an  application  for  discharge.  I  in 
sisted  that  I  had  not  enough  energy  left  to  win  an 
other  case.  His  discharge  had  been  repeatedly 
blocked,  even  though  urged  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  State  of  Indiana,  and  there  seemed  to  be  no 
hope  of  sending  this  brave  soldier  home.  How 
ever,  Mr.  Huron's  statement  of  injustice  was  so 
exasperating  that,  in  righteous  indignation,  I  de 
termined  to  remain  and  make  one  more  effort  at 
this  last  moment.  This  man,  who  had  served  his 
full  term  of  four  years  honorably,  and  had  lost  a 
leg,  was,  without  consent,  placed  on  the  roll  of  the 
Invalid  Corps,  which  indignity  old  soldiers  con 
sidered  a  stain  on  their  army  escutcheon.  Many 
appeals  had  failed  to  accomplish  his  discharge. 
The  case  was  always  "  referred  back  "  to  the  hos 
pital  where  it  was  duly  "  pigeon-holed ".  The 
man's  sister  had  come  to  Washington  expecting  to 


254   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

take  him  home  to  Indiana,  but  for  weeks  all  their 
efforts  had  failed,  and  now  some  legal  complica 
tions  had  culminated  which  required  his  presence 
at  home  to  save  their  little  property  and  farm. 

The  next  day  I  went  to  the  hospital,  and  after 
listening  to  the  man's  statement  I  went  directly  to 
the  surgeon  in  charge,  and  stated  the  case,  —  to 
which  he  replied  with  some  discourtesy.  Having 
received  the  utmost  courtesy  and  respect  and  at 
tention  from  all  the  departments  when  I  had  asked 
for  help,  my  temper  rose  to  the  occasion  when  he 
said :  "  The  man  has  no  descriptive  list,  and  I  will 
attend  to  it  when  I  think  best !  " 

"  That  will  not  answer  my  purpose,"  I  replied 
warmly.  "  I  wish  the  man  to  go  at  once !  "  and  I 
made  some  strong  statements  of  the  urgency  of 
the  situation.  He  assumed  a  dignified  silence;  on 
which  I  stated  emphatically  "  The  man  is  going ! 
If  you  do  not  help  me  in  the  matter,  he  will  go 
just  the  same !  "  My  indignation  was  then  suffi 
cient  to  put  through  a  half  dozen  cases. 

Going  directly  to  the  Medical  Department,  I 
made  known  to  Surgeons  Middletown  and  Abbott 
the  unjust  detention  of  this  loyal  soldier.  They 
had  always  promptly  aided  me  in  other  cases;  and 
upon  hearing  my  statement  they  also  became  in 
dignant,  and  offered  me  every  help.  I  had  "  turned 
in  "  my  ambulance  with  many  thanks,  when  I  in 
tended  to  leave  for  home;  but  Doctor  Middletown 
said  "  You  had  better  have  our  headquarters'  am 
bulance,  for  you  have  many  miles  to  travel  over 


THE  LAST  ACT  IN  MY  DRAMA          255 

the  city  to  put  this  matter  through,  and  I  will  go 
'  over  the  head  '  of  this  surgeon  and  order  him  to 
order  a  descriptive  list." 

With  this  document  I  was  much  encouraged, 
and  went  next  morning  to  the  hospital  and  my  aris 
tocratic  surgeon,  who  tried  not  to  appear  surprised 
as  he  said  loftily:  "  I  will  attend  to  it  ". 

"  Excuse  me ",  I  said,  "  I  came  directly  from 
Headquarters  to  get  your  signature,  and  to  de 
liver  the  paper  to  the  Medical  Department  my 
self." 

He  dared  not  refuse  this  order,  and  sent  for  the 
steward  and  gave  him  the  paper  to  fill  out  the 
order.  I  followed  closely  on  the  heels  of  this  man 
to  his  office,  where  he  coolly  thrust  the  paper  into 
a  pigeon-hole  and  sat  down.  Surmising  that  his 
intention  was  to  make  me  wait  until  after  office 
hours,  I  at  last  said  to  him :  "  Steward,  if  you  do 
not  intend  to  make  out  that  paper  at  once  I  shall 
report  you  to  Medical  Headquarters  ".  He  soon 
found  time  and  made  out  the  paper,  and  I  rode 
away  to  unravel  more  red  tape.  At  the  Medical 
Department  the  doctors  signed  the  paper,  and  di 
rected  me  to  take  it  to  the  War  Department. 
Distances  were  great  and  office  hours  short,  and 
so  another  day  passed.  But  at  the  earliest 
moment  on  the  following  day,  we  drove  to  the  War 
Department,  where  I  found  Captain  Sam  Breck, 
now  a  retired  General,  a  handsome  thoroughbred 
gentleman  who  had  done  me  many  army  favors. 

"Why,   Miss   Smith",  he  exclaimed   cheerfully, 


256   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

"are  you  here  yet?  I  thought  you  were  through 
with  us." 

"  Well,  Captain,  you  haven't  got  rid  of  me  yet, 
and  though  I  am  completely  tired  out,  I  have  taken 
another  most  distressing  case,  and  I'm  going  to  sit 
right  down  here  and  talk  until  you  help  me  out." 

Jokingly,  he  said,  "  Oh,  I  can't  stand  that,  so  let 
us  see  if  I  can  save  your  breath  ". 

I  stated  the  case  as  briefly  as  possible,  and  his 
sense  of  justice  was  aroused  as  he  said  emphatic 
ally,  "  I  will  help  you  with  this  case  ". 

"  How  long  does  it  take  to  put  through  a  de 
scriptive  list?  "  I  asked. 

"  Well,"  he  replied,  "  about  three  weeks  us 
ually!" 

"  Oh,"  I  exclaimed,  "  that  won't  do.  I  can't 
stay  so  long,  and  if  I  leave  the  papers  they'll  be 
pigeon-holed  again." 

He  thought  a  moment,  and  said,  "  Let  me  have 
the  papers  ",  and  he  left  me  waiting  in  his  office. 

On  returning  the  paper  he  said,  "  There,  Miss 
Smith,  that  has  never  before  been  done  in  this  De 
partment.  The  descriptive  list  has  been  put 
through  in  fifteen  minutes.  Take  it  to  your 
doctor,  and  he  will  be  obliged  to  sign  it;  and  then 
your  man  will  be  free." 

Too  delighted  and  relieved  to  properly  express 
my  thanks,  I  said  —  "  Good-bye  for  good  this 
time,  Captain.  I  promise  not  to  trouble  you  any 
more !  " 

Again  in  the  ambulance  I  said  to  the  driver,  who 


THE  LAST  ACT  IN  MY  DRAMA          257 

was  very  much  interested,  "  Now,  Orderly,  your 
horses  can  not  go  too  fast  for  me !  "  and  soon  we 
dashed  up  to  the  hospital  grounds. 

Meanwhile  the  case  had  become  hospital  gossip, 
and  every  "  Boy  "  knew  of  my  work.  The  doctor 
gave  me  the  slip,  but  I  followed  him  up  through 
the  wards  till  I  found  him  at  last  in  his  office.  In 
passing  through  the  wards  I  waved  the  paper  say 
ing  —  "  Boys,  I  have  it,  I  have  it !  "  A  low  cheer 
passed  round  as  the  good  news  spread  from  ward 
to  ward. 

On  presenting  this  order  I  said,  "  Doctor,  will 
you  please  sign  this?  " 

With  an  effort  he  controlled  his  expression,  and 
said  quite  blandly,  "  Er,  er-when  would  you  like  to 
have  this  man  go?  " 

"  Immediately,  if  you  please !  "  —  with  extreme 
politeness. 

"  Oh !  then  I  will  order  the  ambulance." 

"Thank  you,"  I  replied,  "I  have  the  Medical 
Headquarters'  Ambulance  waiting  and  will  take  the 
man  with  me  just  as  soon  as  he  can  be  made 
ready."  I  then  bowed  myself  out  politely. 

In  half  an  hour  the  happy  cripple  was  placed  be 
side  me  in  the  ambulance,  and  we  drove  directly 
to  Mr.  Huron's  home,  where  the  now  rejoicing 
sister  was  waiting.  She  started  at  once  to  take  her 
brother  home  by  easy  stages,  and  we  heard  that 
they  had  reached  their  little  farm  in  safety.  A 
letter  of  appreciation  from  the  Secretary  of  the 


258   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

State  of  Indiana  was  a  satisfactory  ending  to  this 
almost  impossible  case. 

In  my  many  visits  to  this  hospital  I  had  discov 
ered  some  "  irregularities ",  for  instance,  that  a 
number  of  soldiers  were  detained  on  various  pre 
texts  in  order  that  the  requisite  number  might  be 
maintained,  with  their  "  rations "  (thirty-seven 
cents  per  diem)  to  keep  open  this  hospital.  So 
many  men  begged  me,  almost  upon  their  knees,  to 
help  them.  As  this  was  quite  beyond  my  strength 
I  resolved  to  report  the  matter  to  General  Grant's 
headquarters.  During  my  call  he  listened  politely 
and  silently,  laid  away  his  cigar,  gave  me  his  at 
tention,  and  referred  me  to  Adjutant  Bowers,  who 
exclaimed :  "  Why,  that  is  impossible !  Here  is  an 
order  sent  some  weeks  ago  directing  all  conva 
lescents  to  be  discharged  at  once !  " 

"  Nevertheless,  Colonel,"  I  replied,  "  the  men 
remain." 

With  some  excitement  he  replied,  "  If  you  can 
get  me  the  names  of  these  men,  and  I  find  that 
orders  have  not  been  followed,  I  will  close  that 
hospital,  at  once." 

This  decision  and  the  fact  that  General  Grant 
had  given  me  his  autograph  during  my  visit,  made 
me  very  happy.  I  diplomatically  secured  a  list  of 
about  twenty  men  who  were  being  wrongfully  de 
tained,  and  this  was  at  once  conveyed  to  Colonel 
Bowers.  This  was  my  "  Coup  d'  etat "  in  Wash 
ington  ;  and  I  thought  it  a  good  time  to  retire  from 
hospital  work  and  to  return  to  my  home  for  rest. 


THE  LAST  ACT  IN  MY  DRAMA          259 

Two  weeks  later  I  saw  by  a  Washington  paper 
that  all  patients  at  this  hospital  able  to  travel  had 
been  sent  home,  and  a  small  remainder  of  those 
still  sick  had  been  carried  to  Harewood  Hospital, 
the  former  hospital  having  ended  its  career. 

I  had  hoped  to  meet  General  Grant's  Military 
Secretary,  General  Eli  Parker,  who  wrote  the 
draft  of  the  surrender  of  Appomattox.  He  was 
said  to  have  been  of  imposing  appearance.  He 
was  chief  of  the  Senecas  and  of  the  Six  Nations, 
and  his  Indian  name  was  Donehogawa.  When  at 
home  on  their  reservation  with  their  father,  his 
sisters,  who,  when  in  Washington,  were  among  the 
cultured  society  of  the  Capitol,  wore  the  rich  cos 
tumes  of  princesses  of  the  tribe  and  were  treated 
with  the  homage  due  to  their  rank. 

Thus  ended  my  work  in  Washington  for  the 
"  Boys  in  Blue  ". 


260   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 


CHAPTER  XXXI 
TRANSPORTATION  HOME 

THE  war  was  over,  and  government  passes 
and  government  roads  were  of  the  past, 
only  regular  army  transportation  was  now 
allowed,  except  to  the  Medical  Department  for  the 
purpose  of  sending  home  delayed  patients.  My 
"  Grant  Pass  ",  that  had  made  me  so  independent, 
became  at  once  only  a  relic.  Therefore,  being  en 
titled  to  transportation  to  my  home,  I  went  to 
Surgeon  General  Barnes,  U.  S.  A.,  to  receive  that 
privilege.  After  a  pleasant  conversation  with  the 
General,  he  remarked,  "  Your  name  is  not  on  the 
pay  roll,  and  you  are  entitled  to  pay  for  army 
service.  If  you  will  make  out  your  claim  I  will 
endorse  it ". 

To  this  I  replied,  —  with  more  sentiment,  as  I 
now  see  it,  than  judgment,  —  "  General,  I  thank 
you,  but  I  do  not  wish  pay  for  my  services  in  hos 
pital  work.  If  I  had  been  a  man  I  would  have  en 
listed  as  a  soldier.  But  being  only  a  woman  it 
was  all  I  could  do,  and  I  wish  to  give  that  service 
to  my  country." 

Often,  since  then,  I  have  thought  of  the  quizzical 
expression  of  the  General's  eyes,  though  he  said 
not  a  word  about  an  impractical  girl  who  did  not 
think  far  enough  to  see  what  good  she  might  have 
done  with  that  accumulated  wage  of  several  years. 


TRANSPORTATION  HOME  261 

At  that  time,  however,  I  was  receiving  (during 
several  months)  sixty  dollars  per  month  as  New 
York  State  Agent,  —  the  only  pay  I  ever  received. 
But  that  seemed  different.  The  war  was  over. 

The  General  then  asked  how  far  I  wanted  trans 
portation.  I  replied  that  I  lived  in  Brooklyn,  but 
would  take  transportation  as  far  as  he  would  give 
it.  But  as  I  used  it  only  to  my  home  I  still  have 
the  following  form  of  transportation : 

"  Boston  &  Maine  R.  R. 

This   Order  not  Transferable. 
D.  No.  51978 

Oct.  20,  1865. 

Transport   Miss   Ada   W.    Smith 
From  Boston,  Mass.,  to  Portland,  Me. 
En  Route  from  Washington  to  Augusta,  Me. 
Signature  of  officer  issuing  the  order, 

IRA  G.  PAYNE, 
Capt.  A.  Q.  M. 

By  order  of  the  Quarter  Master  General, 

LEWIS  B.  PARSONS, 
Col.  &  Chief  of  Rail  and  River  Transportation. 

Resting  only  a  few  days  after  my  return  to  my 
home,  I  was  urged  by  friends  on  the  Sanitary  Com 
mission  to  assist,  with  another,  a  lady  of  remark 
able  ability,  a  Miss  Baldwin,  in  dispensing  some 
surplus  funds  for  the  Sanitary  Commission,  with 
Headquarters  in  New  York  City.  This  surplus 
could  not,  according  to  their  organization,  be  used 
for  other  purposes  than  for  the  benefit  of  soldiers. 
After  much  discussion  it  seemed  that  the  soldiers' 


262   REMINISCENCES  OF  AN  ARMY  NURSE 

families  should  be  the  natural  recipients.  So 
during  most  of  that  unusually  severe  winter, 
1865-6,  I  went  daily  from  my  home  in  Brooklyn 
to  New  York,  and  with  my  companion  found  many 


ADELAIDE  W.    SMITH,   1867 


families  in  need  of  help,  who  might  otherwise  have 
perished  with  cold.  When  spring  brought  relief, 
the  last  dollar  of  that  grand  life-saving  organiza 
tion  was  expended. 


TRANSPORTATION  HOME  263 

This  was,  of  course,  before  the  day  of  pensions. 
We  continued  this  work  until  the  funds  were  ex 
hausted.  Then  I  retired  finally  from  the  engross 
ing  activity  of  hospital  life  and  caring  for  soldiers' 
families,  in  which  I  was  engaged  from  1862 
through  1866. 

I  had  been  very  happy  in  this  ministration  that 
daily  brought  its  reward  in  the  gratitude  and  ap 
preciation  of  my  "  Boys  in  Blue ",  and  in  the 
thought  that  I  had  done  at  least  what  I  could  in 
that  fearful  struggle  to  save  our  Union  and 
glorious  country. 

No  one  really  desires  to  grow  old,  but  I  would 
not  have  missed  that  call  for  every  heart  and  hand 
to  respond  to  its  duty,  even  to  be  young  again. 

And  the  star  spangled  banner 
In  triumph  shall  wave, 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free 
And  the  home  of  the  brave. 

Francis  Scott  Key. 


HENRY    A     COZZENS. 


_— -" 

Department  of  New  York,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


PROSPECT  546. 


Brooklyn,         J"'y  's<h-  1909. 


MISS    ADELAIDE    W.    SMITH    gave  her   lecture,  "  HOSPITAI    EXPERIENCE 
DURING    THE    WAR,"    before    the     U.    S.    Grant     Post    of    Brooklyn,    on   'Tuesday 

large  audience  was  present  to  greet  Miss  Smith.  The  subject,  itself  one  of  absorb 
ing  interest,  was  skilfully  presented  by  the  lecturer  and  was  received  with  marked 
attention' and  interest. 

I  take  very  great  pleasure  in  commending  Miss  Smith's  lecture  to  the  G.  A.  R. 
Posts  of  New  York  and  vicinity  also  to  Church  Societies,  Clubs,  Schools,  and  other 
organizations  that  go  to  make  up  the  social  and  intellectual  life  of  a  community. 
Miss  Smith's  services  to  our  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  from  1861  to  1865  entitle  her 
to  the  generous  recognition  of  our  comrades,  and  the  men  and  women  of  America. 
(Signed)  ANDREW  JACOBS, 

U.   S.  GRANT   POST, 

BROOKLYN,  NEW  YORK. 


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